KLANG: Celebrity preacher Azman Syah Alias, better known as PU Azman or Cik Man, plans to appeal a Sessions Court decision sentencing him to 24 years' jail and two strokes of the cane for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy in 2022.
His lawyer, Mohamad Zahid Ahmad, confirmed he would file a notice of appeal at the High Court soon.
"We will also be filing a review for a stay of execution of the sentence, which was dismissed by judge Noridah Adam," he said after proceedings today.
Earlier, Noridah sentenced Azman Syah to 12 years in jail and one stroke of the cane each for two charges levelled against him under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 which provides imprisonment a maximum 20 year jail term.
He was charged with two counts of committing physical sexual assault on the victim at 12.15am and 1am on Feb 20 and June 29, 2022 at a homestay in Kampung Sungai Udang, Klang respectively.
Azman Syah looked calm and composed in the dock while his sister, who sat at the public gallery, was seen wiping away tears.
As soon as the court meted out its decision, Zahid applied for a stay of the execution on grounds that his client was a first offender.
"The probability of him to be involved in other crimes while waiting for the decision of the appeal is very slim.
"I ask the court to take into consideration that my client has cases at other courts.
"The victim, too, has separate court cases, some ongoing and some has not started.
"If the court asks him to serve his sentence immediately, it will be difficult for us to prepare the best defence for him," he said
.
He explained to the court that Azman Syah has multiple cases at courts in Seremban, Klang, Shah Alam and Ampang.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul 'Izzati Mohamad urged the court to dismiss the application for a stay of execution as the defence's reasons does not fall under special circumstances.
The court then dismissed the application.