Witness denies trying to damage Ebit Lew’s reputation

TENOM: A witness in Ebit Lew’s sexual harassment trial has denied that he and the founder of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) conspired to damage the preacher’s reputation.

Motivational expert Fairuz Abu, 37, said this during cross-examination by counsel Ram Singh at the magistrates’ court here.

To a suggestion by the lawyer that he and Multiracial Reverted Muslim (MRM) 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 (by using) social media and making arrangements for the woman (victim) to go to Bukit Aman to lodge the police report on the accused, you and Firdaus Wong conspired to damage the accused’s reputation.

Fairuz: I do not agree.

Ram: I put it to you as a matter of fact, the woman had no intention to lodge a police report on 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 a statement to the police on Aug 7, 2021.

Lew, 37, is facing 11 charges, including for insulting the modesty of a 41-year-old woman by sending her text messages containing lewd words between March and June last year.

The preacher, who was charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code, faces a jail term of up to five years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

The trial before magistrate Nur Asyraf Zolhani continues tomorrow. — Free Malaysia Today