KUALA LUMPUR: The police have received three reports so far against independent preacher Ebit Irawan Ibrahim Lew (Ebit Lew) for allegedly committing sexual harassment against several women.
At the Tenom magistrate's court today, Ebit, 37, was charged on 11 counts of sexual harassment under Section 509 of the Penal Code for intentionally violating a person's dignity by disseminating lewd pictures and words using Whatsapp.
Federal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Seri Abd Jalil Hassan said all the charges pressed against Ebit today were for offences that he allegedly committed against a Malay woman in Tenom between March and June 2021.
"On Aug 7, 2021, police received a complaint against the independent preacher who allegedly engaged in sexual harassment by sending obscene images and messages to the complainants.
"Two other police reports were also lodged (against Ebit) for similar offence.
"In total, the police received three complaints, including two that were investigated under Section 509 of the Penal Code (for word or gesture intended to insult the modesty of a person), Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 (for insulting behaviour) and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998 (for improper use of network facilities or network service).
"If found guilty, the offender can be sentenced to a maximum five year imprisonment, slapped with a fine, or both," he told reporters during a press conference today.
Abd Jalil said the victims who lodged the reports were between 21 and 40 years old.
He also urged the public to avoid making speculations or provocations in relations to the case to ensure smooth trial proceedings.
The CID director said there was an ongoing investigation into another case involving Ebit and would refer the matter to the public prosecutor once the probe is completed.
On Aug 19 last year, Ebit was summoned to Bukit Aman to have his statement recorded over allegation of sexual harassment.
The police also conducted a search at his residence on the same day.
Then, on Sept 30, the celebrity preacher was once again called up by the police, along with his wife, to have their statements taken to facilitate investigations.