PETALING JAYA: A witness testifying in Ebit Irawan Ibrahim Lew’s sexual harassment trial told the magistrates’ court in Tenom, Sabah, today the celebrity preacher had pressured her into sending him photos of her breasts.
The woman, whose name was withheld, admitted during cross-examination she had sent one photo but denied cheating on her husband, Sinar Harian reported.
"I told my husband I was pressured into doing it. I didn’t realise it at the time. When I did, I became angry with Ebit and informed my husband," the prosecution’s ninth witness was quoted as saying.
The woman said her husband became enraged and told her to stop entertaining Ebit on WhatsApp, but the preacher, who is known for his philanthropic works, contacted her via Instagram instead.
She said that was when she ticked Ebit off.
"But he didn’t care and kept sending me lewd texts." she said.
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In testimony given in May, the woman denied flirting or carrying on a relationship with the preacher.
The woman said she reached out to Ebit to discuss her family problems, for which he showed some concern.
Ebit, 38, faces 11 charges, including for outraging the modesty of a woman through obscene words and images sent to her phone between March and June 2021.
The charges under Section 509 of the Penal Code provide for a prison sentence of up to five years or a fine, or both, if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutors Zahida Zakaria, Nor Azizah Mohamad and Analia Kamaruddin prosecuted, while Ebit was represented by Ram Singh, Kamarudin Mohmad Chinki, Syarulnizam Salleh Keruak and Prem Elmer Ganasan.
The hearing before magistrate Nur Asyraf Zolhani continues.
