PU AZMAN JAILED SEVEN YEARS, TWO WHIPPING FOR PHYSICAL SEXUAL ASSAULT

SEREMBAN,  Dec 17 (Bernama) -- Celebrity preacher Azman Syah Alias,  better known as PU Azman, was sentenced to seven years in prison and two strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court, here today.

Judge Datin Surita Budin handed down the sentence after he pleaded guilty to four amended charges of physical sexual assault on two teenage boys two years ago.

She also ordered Azman Syah to undergo counselling and be placed under police probation for two years after completing his time in jail.

The judge said her decision was made after considering various factors, including the fact that public interest outweighed the interests of the accused.

On three of the charges, he was sentenced to seven years in prison and one stroke of the cane, and five years imprisonment with one stroke of the cane on the fourth charge, to be served concurrently from last Oct 9.

According to the charges, Azman Syah was alleged to have physically sexually assaulted two teenage boys aged 17 and 16 at a house in Taman Tiara Sendayan, here between 8.30 pm and 5 am on Feb 5 and July 6, 2022.

Earlier during mitigation, lawyer Mohamad Zahid Ahmad, representing Azman Syah, said his client's admission of guilt had saved time and costs for all involved in the case.

"He has been in jail since Sept 27 and until now is still serving his sentence over a charge in the Klang court," he said, adding that Azman Syah apologised for his mistakes and is remorseful.

Azman Syah was also represented by lawyer Fahmi Adilah, while the prosecution was represented by deputy public prosecutors Rasyidah Murni Adzmi, Nurul Balkis Zunaidi and Norazihah Asmuni.

Rashidah when requesting the court to hand down a sentence that would serve as a lesson for both the accused and society, said an admission of guilt should not be a factor in reducing a sentence.

"The accused is a celebrity preacher and the offence is something that no one, let alone a preacher, should do to children," she said.

On Sept 27, Azman was sentenced to 24 years in jail and two strokes of the cane at the Sessions Court in Klang after he was found guilty of physical sexual assault of a 17-year-old boy two years ago and on Dec 6, he was sentenced to 14 months in jail after pleading guilty to gross indecency against a teenage boy.

-- BERNAMA