TENOM – A witness in Ebit Irawan Ibrahim Lew or Ebit Lew’s sexual harassment trial denied at the magistrates’ court here today that he and the founder of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) conspired to damage the preacher’s reputation.
Motivational expert Mohd Fairuz Abu, 37, said this during cross examination by counsel Ram Singh.
To a suggestion by the lawyer that he and Multiracial Reverted Muslim founder Firdaus Wong still publicised the issue on social media, the first prosecution witness said he did not, but Wong did.
Ram: “I put it to you that through social media (Tenom case) and making arrangements for the woman to go to Bukit Aman to lodge the police report against the accused, you and Wong conspired to damage the accused's reputation.”
Fairuz: “I do not agree.”
Ram: “I put it to you as a matter of fact that the woman had no intention to lodge a police report against the accused.”
Fairuz: “I do not agree.”
Ram: “I put it to you that the woman decided to lodge a police report only after her conversation with you on July 26, 2021.”
Fairuz: “I am not sure.”
During re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Zahida Zakaria, Fairuz said he accompanied the woman and her husband to lodge a police report at Bukit Aman as a sign of support and also to provide testimony to police on August 7, 2021.
Lew, 37, faces 11 charges, including insulting the modesty of a woman in her 40s by sending obscene words to the victim’s phone number via WhatsApp between March and June last year.
The charge under Section 509 of the Penal Code provides for a prison sentence of up to five years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
The trial before magistrate Nur Asyraf Zolhani continues tomorrow. – Bernama, September 28, 2022
