KUALA LUMPUR: Former celebrity preacher Azman Syah Alias, known as PU Azman, has been sentenced to six years in prison and one stroke of the cane after admitting to an additional charge of physical sexual assault against a 17-year-old boy. The Sessions Court handed down the sentence today, with Judge Rasyihah Ghazali ordering that Azman begin serving his sentence immediately at Kajang Prison.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Azman Syah, 43, is also required to undergo counseling during his imprisonment and will be placed under police supervision for two years after completing his sentence. The court also decided that a second charge against Azman, related to his role in the drama “7 Hari Mencintaiku Musim Ketiga,” would be considered under Section 171A of the Criminal Procedure Code. This decision followed the Attorney General’s Chambers’ acceptance of a representation from Azman’s defense team earlier this month.
Azman Syah’s conviction stems from an incident in September 2017, where he was accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old at a homestay in Jalan Kebun. Charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act 2017, the law allows for a maximum prison term of 20 years and caning upon conviction. The case details allege that Azman engaged in inappropriate touching with the teenager after inviting him to stay overnight.
Defense attorney Fahmi Adilah appealed for leniency, citing Azman’s remorse and his engagement in religious programs while incarcerated. However, the prosecution, led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Rasyidah Murni Adzmi, argued for a sentence that reflects the severity of the crime and serves as a deterrent, emphasizing the societal responsibility of individuals like Azman.
Azman Syah has faced multiple convictions related to sexual assault this year. In December, he received a seven-year sentence and two strokes of the cane for charges involving two teenage boys. In a separate case, he was sentenced to 14 months in prison for an obscene act against an 18-year-old, and in September, he was sentenced to 24 years and two strokes of the cane for sexual assault charges involving another 17-year-old.
All sentences are being served concurrently, starting from the dates of sentencing, according to Azman’s lawyer, Mohamad Zahid Ahmad.