KUALA LUMPUR: Celebrity preacher, Azman Syah Alias, has been charged in the Ampang Sessions court today with one count of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy in July.
The accused, who is also known as PU Azman, was charged under Section 14 (d) of the Sexual Offences against Children Act 2017, which carries a punishment of a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
He pleaded not guilty when the charge was read out to him before Judge Norhazani Hamzah.
According to the charge sheet, he had committed the offence at a resort in Hulu Langat around noon, on July 22 this year.
Initially, deputy public prosecutor Norhashimah Hashim had pleaded for the court to deny bail on the accused.
However, this was rebutted by the accused's lawyer, Mohamad Zahid Ahmad who said it was of utmost important for bail to be ordered on the accused, to prepare the best defence for his case.
The court then ordered RM10,000 bail on the accused and fixed February 10 next year for mention.
Previously, PU Azman, on Oct 12, had been charged with five counts of sexually assaulting two teenage boys in February and July.
He was again charged on Dec 7, for committing sexual conduct and communication, as well as extreme obscenity towards three teenage boys in February, June and August this year.