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Cleric faces new charges of sexually abusing a student

Posted October 07, 2015 7:00 am

The Associated Press

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. (AP) - A suburban Chicago Islamic scholar already facing charges of sexually abusing an employee of the school he founded faces new allegations that he abused a former student.

Mohammad Abdullah Saleem, founder of the Institute of Islamic Education in Elgin, was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bail Wednesday on charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

The Daily Herald in Arlington Heights reports (http://bit.ly/1NogIUv) Saleem's new accuser claims the cleric sexually abused her 15 to 20 times between 2001 and 2003, when she was between 14 and 16 years old and a student at the school. Illinois law allows sexual abuse charges within 20 years of an accuser's 18th birthday.

Saleem had been free on bond on the earlier charge.

Defense attorney Raymond Wigell declined to comment after Wednesday's hearing.

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