PETALING JAYA: Celebrity preacher Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Mohammad Shaiful, who was detained following a series of sexual assault reports lodged by several women, has been charged with committing unnatural sex and molesting a college student.
The 25-year old popularly known as "Da'i Syed" pleaded not guilty to the offences in two separate courts, here.
In the Sessions Court, Syed Shah Iqmal was charged with committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature on the 22-year old victim, an offence under Section 377B of the Penal Code.
The offence was allegedly committed at the accused's rented unit in Empire City, Jalan PJU 8/1, Damansara Perdana, here, between 3am and 4am on Oct 17.
Syed Shah Iqmal faces up to 20 years' jail and whipping if he is convicted of the offence.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor P. Vitiya Monisha did not offer bail to the accused saying that it was a serious offence.
"He has several other cases in different courts. Besides, the accused and the victim know each other, so there is a possibility of him harrassing the victim," she said.
She said if the court were to allow bail, the prosecution proposed RM100,000 with additional conditions which were for the accused to report to the police station and to be prohibited from going near the victim.
In pleading for bail to be imposed, the accused's counsel, Syed Amirul Syed Edros said his client had given full cooperation throughout the investigation and had even gone to the police voluntarily when he was first arrested.
"We plead for a minimum bail as he (Syed) has no source of income since the Covid-19 pandemic took hold," he said.
Judge Faiz Dziyauddin then allowed the accused RM20,000 in one surety and ordered the accused to surrender his passport to the court.
The court had also ordered the accused to report to the police station nearest to him on the first day of each month and prohibited the accused from going near the victim until the disposal of the case.
Syed Shah Iqmal's case will be up for mention on Feb 19, next year.
In the magistrate's court, Syed Shah Iqmal was charged with using criminal force on the same woman with intent to outrage her modesty at the same place and time.
The offence under Section 354 of the Penal Code carries a maximum jail term of 10 years or a fine or with whipping or with any of the two punishments, if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Zamriah Zarifah Aris said the accused's "celebrity preacher" status is not an excuse for him to be released on bail.
Syed Amirul in pleading for bail said his client has been taking care of his mother since his father left the family in 2017.
Magistrate Mohamad Ikhwan Mohd Nasir allowed RM5,000 bail in one surety and ordered the accused to stay away from the victim and the prosecution's witnesses until the disposal of the case.
The court fixed the same day for mention.
Syed Shah Iqmal will be brought to the Shah Alam Sessions Court later to face a rape charge.
He was first remanded on Nov 27, to facilitate a probe into a rape case at a house in Seksyen 7, Shah Alam, in September.
Since then, several other women had come forward and lodged police reports against the television personality in relation to sexual offences.
