Court hearing for sexual assault suspect continues this week

 

Community activist Ibrahim Aljahim is accused of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old male student.

 

Update: Friday’s preliminary examination in court was postponed until Oct. 31.

By Charles Sercombe

A high-profile community activist faced his first day in court last week regarding a sexual assault charge.

Last Thursday, the first day of a preliminary examination was held in Hamtramck 31st District Court for Ibrahim Aljahim, 37, who is charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree.

According to investigators, it is alleged that Aljahim sexually assaulted an 18-year-old male student at Oakland International Academy, located on Florian St., where the former St. Florian High School once operated for decades.

According to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Aljahim allegedly escorted the special education student out of the building and into his car, where he sexually assaulted him.

The courtroom was packed with observers, and testimony ran so long that is will continue today, Friday, Oct. 18 at 10 a.m.

According to media reports, Aljahim’s attorney, Roger Farinha, is suggesting that students made up the allegations.

The victim, who The Review is not identifying because of the nature of the crime, was visibly nervous testifying.

The teen said he followed Aljahim, who was the Community Liaison Officer at the school, because the Koran tells younger people to follow the directions of their elders.

The teen said he was “shaking with fear” when he was in car with Aljahim.

The teen will continue testifying today, Friday, Oct. 18 at 10 a.m.

Aljahim’s lawyer and the Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor frequently clashed in court, and a number of recesses were called, said a source.

The Review could not attend the court hearing on Thursday because that is the day the paper goes to press.

The atmosphere in the courtroom, say those who were there, was tense.

A spokesman for the school said Aljahim was fired from his position with school shortly after his arrest.

The assault allegedly happened on Sept. 18.

Aljahim was released on a $1,000 cash bond, but he had to surrender his passport and must wear an electronic tracking device. If convicted of the two counts of first-degree sexual assault, he faces a maximum term of life in prison.

He was ordered to have no contact with the victim or any witnesses.

Aljahim has socialized and campaigned for many elected and political figures, locally, statewide and even nationally.

Soon after being arrested, he was seen at a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders when he was at the GM Poletown plant in support of the UAW strikers.

In the meantime, Aljahim has kept a low profile in the city. However, he has been active on his Facebook page, where he comments on current affairs and refers to religious sayings, but has not said a word about the charges.

He has not responded to The Review’s request for a comment.

Oct. 18, 2019

3 Responses to Court hearing for sexual assault suspect continues this week

  1. Dennis Nowak

    October 19, 2019 at 11:21 pm

    Thanks for the coverage of this case.

    Councilman Ian Perrotta has sat in the spectator section of the courtroom listening intently to the testimony.

    Another person – believed to be an official from the State Board of Education – was also listening to the court proceedings.

    One aspect that has not resurfaced during these proceedings is the reference made earlier by the prosecution of the possibility of several other “victims”.

  2. john e warchock

    November 1, 2019 at 11:55 am

    I cant understand how Judge Krott is still presiding over this case.She knows the defendant very well as he has given money and support to help Judge Krott get elected..He has also supported many other Politicians in Hamtramck and metro Detroit….How this guy is not under house arrest and not allowed near a school is beyond me…

  3. Fatema Hossain

    November 2, 2019 at 3:06 pm

    You need to update this article. The October 31st hearing session was held and will continue on Nov. 7 – next Thursday.

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