Prosecutor loses appeal in sexual assault case
Ibrahim Aljahim
By Charles Sercombe
It’s strike two for the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
On Friday, a Wayne County Circuit Court judge rejected an appeal by the prosecutor’s office to reinstate charges against a Hamtramck man who had been accused of sexual assault.
Judge Bruce Morrow upheld a ruling by Hamtramck 31st District Court Judge Alexis Krot in which she dismissed charges against Ibrahim Aljahim last November.
Aljahim was charged with assaulting a male student at Oakland International Academy. The special education student was 18 years old at the time. He is now 19.
Aljahim was the community liaison officer at the school, but no longer works there.
After a series of testy preliminary examinations, Judge Krot refused to send the case to Wayne County Circuit Court for further legal proceedings because she said the prosecutor had failed to provide “credible” evidence.
She also cited conflicting testimony by the student, who was often confused and appeared unsure how to answer some questions posed by Aljahim’s attorney.
The Review does no identify the names of alleged sexual assault victims.
Aljahim vehemently denied the accusation. He is a prominent Yemeni-American community activist. Aljahim has been involved in local politics, and has associated with state and national elected officials and candidates.
There was DNA evidence collected, but according to a source, results are still pending.
A source also said that the prosecutor may further appeal to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Posted March 13, 2020
Updated March 14
2 Responses to Prosecutor loses appeal in sexual assault case
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Roadman
March 13, 2020 at 9:06 pm
“There was DNA evidence collected, but according to a source, results are still pending.”
It is amazing that they arrest the suspect in September of 2019 and it is now March and they claim they are awaiting “pending” DNA testing results. Why so long?
Why would one arrest a suspect BEFORE scientific DNA testing is complete?
It is also a fact Ibrahim Aljahim was arrested days before an arrest warrant actually was issued by a judge.
Unlike the November 2019 hearing when six or seven members of the Hamtramck Police Department appeared in the courtroom of Judge Alexis Krot, no one from the H.P.D. was seen in the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice courtroom of the Honorable Bruce Morrow for the appeal hearing, which Margaret Gillis Ayalp of the Appeals Division argued on behalf of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
Judge Morrow, in affirming the lower court dismissal order of Judge Krot, cited the detailed and careful findings of Krot when issuing her dismissal order – plus the fact Krot has a personal opportunity to witness the testimony introduced by the prosecution.
The prosecution has 21 days to apply for leave to appeal in the Michigan Court of Appeals the Wayne County Circuit Court affirmance of Judge Morrow. There is no right to appellate review at this point, the prosecutor will have to request the Court of Appeals to consider to review the dismissal of the case.
Dennis Nowak
March 14, 2020 at 8:39 pm
I recall all of the hoopla when Aljahim’s arrest was announced – allegations were made of “other victims” – then everything fizzled.
During the case, a Hamtramck P.D. corporal testified that the initial notice to police came from a criminal suspect being interviewed who was a student at the school who supposedly took illicit photos of the purported victim. That corporal had testified that that separate investigation is ongoing – but since then nothing has been by way of public statement whether or not the investigation relative to illicit photographs remains open and active.
A little transparency would help.