CELEBRITY preacher Ebit Liew was today slapped with 11 charges including sexual harassment at a court in Tenom, Sabah.

A police source confirmed that Ebit – a well-known Muslim preacher – was brought to the Tenom district office where the charges were read.

It was learnt that Ebit arrived in a Toyota Vellfire at about 9am accompanied by some of his supporters.

Meanwhile, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Abdul Jalil Hassan said Ebit, whose full name is Ebit Irawan Ibrahim Lew, was charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code for insulting the modesty of a person, either verbally or through his actions.

Jalil explained Ebit is alleged to have sent the lewd messages through WhatsApp to a woman in Tenom from March to June last year. 

“The 38-year-old preacher was charged this morning at the magistrate’s court in Tenom with 11 counts of sexual harassment under Section 509.”

“It carries a prison term of up to five years, a fine, or both, if convicted,” he said in a statement.

In August last year, Ebit gave his statement to Bukit Aman to facilitate investigations into allegations of sexual harassment.

Jalil had previously said the investigations would continue until the police were satisfied enough to refer the case to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for advice and further action. – February 18, 2022.