CELEBRITY preacher Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Mohammad Shaiful’s trial has been moved to next month, after a witness, who is also the victim in the case,
did not show up at the Sessions Court in Petaling Jaya today.

Judge Jamaludin Mat made the decision after the deputy public prosecutor informed the court of the matter and requested for the eight-day trial to be postponed to May 17.

The victim, who is a private college student, is supposed to testify as the first prosecution witness in the case.

Syed Shah Iqmal, known as Da’i Syed, is charged with two counts of sexual offences.

On December 10 last year, the 26-year-old pleaded not guilty to committing unnatural sex and outraging the modesty of the 22-year-old victim at the former’s rented house in Damansara Perdana between 3am and 4am on October 17, 2020.

He was charged under section 377B of the penal code, which provides for a maximum 20-year jail term and whipping upon conviction.

Syed Shah Iqmal was also charged in the magistrates’ court with using criminal force on the same woman with intent to outrage her modesty at the same place and date.

The charge under section 354 of the penal code provides for a maximum 10-year jail term or fine or whipping, or any two of the punishments, upon conviction.

On March 19, the magistrates’ court allowed the cases to be transferred to the Sessions Court for a joint trial. – Bernama, April 20, 2022.