AMPANG: Celebrity preacher Azman Syah Alias - better known as PU Azman - is facing yet another charge of allegedly sexually molesting an underaged boy at a resort.
Azman, who is also known to his social media followers as "Cik Man", pleaded not guilty to the charge before Sessions Court judge Norhazani Hamzah here on Wednesday (Dec 21).
According to the charge sheet, Azman allegedly sexually molested the 17-year-old at a room of a Hulu Langat resort at noon on July 22.
He was charged under Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and faces up to 20 years in jail and possible whipping, if convicted.
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This is his 10th criminal charge after a slew of other similar charges at the Seremban Sessions Court on Oct 12 and the Klang Sessions and Magistrate's Courts on Dec 7.
Deputy public prosecutor Norhashimah Hashim did not offer bail.
However, she pressed for a high bail amount if the court used its discretion to grant bail on the grounds that the case was a high-profile one because of the accused's celebrity status.
"I also ask for additional conditions to be imposed by the court, for the accused not to disturb witnesses in the case, for him to report to the nearest police station monthly, and surrender his passport to the court," Norhashimah said.
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Azman's lawyer Mohamad Zahid Ahmad urged the court to grant his client bail to be able to prepare the best defence in the case.
He said previous courts in Klang and Seremban had granted Azman bail at RM24,000 and RM40,000 respectively.
"My client's sister is ready to be his bailor. I ask for a low bail amount as my client's income has been badly affected by this.
"He still has to support his siblings who are not working," Mohamad Zahid said.
Judge Norhazani allowed bail at RM10,000 in one surety and granted all the additional conditions proposed by the prosecution.
The case has been fixed for mention on Feb 10.
