KOTA KINABALU, Feb 18 — Celebrity Islamic preacher Ebit Lew has been charged with 11 counts of sexual harassment in a Circuit Court in the interior district of Sabah today.

Ebit, 37, widely known for his charity work, arrived at the Circuit Court in the Tenom district office at 9am under heavy police presence.

Lew, whose full name is Ebit Irawan Ibrahim Lew, pled not guilty to the charges in front of Magistrate Nur Asyraf Zolhani.

Trial is scheduled for April 20 to 23.

Ebit was released after posting bail of RM11,000 — RM1,000 per charge — and two sureties.

Sabah prosecution director Muhammad Ilmami Ahmad and deputy public prosecutor Azreen Yas Mohamad Ramli appeared for the prosecution while lawyer Mohamed Zairi Zainal Abidin represented Ebit.

In a press conference at the Tenom police headquarters, Bukit Aman criminal investigation department (CID) director Abd Jalil Hassan said investigations showed that Ebit had sent lewd messages and pictures through WhatsApp to a Malay woman in Tenom.

"The offences took place between March and July last year,” he said, adding that police were also probing other sexual harassment claims by the same woman. Altogether three reports were .received against the preacher

"We will submit the investigation papers to the deputy public prosecutor for the next course action after the probe is completed. We will investigate all angles including slander,” he said.

Abd Jalil also urged the public against making any speculation or provocation on the matter to ensure the legal proceedings can run smoothly.

Section 509 covers the crime of intent to insult the modesty of any person, either verbally or through action and carries a prison term of up to five years or with fine or with both if convicted.