Former imam accused of sexual assault gets new judge

This story was updated to correct the name of the judge assigned to the case and to reflect the name of the attorney who has taken over his defense.

A change of judge was granted Thursday by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Joseph M. Cataldo for a prominent former imam and head of an Islamic school in Elgin who was charged last month with sexually assaulting a school employee..

Mohammed Abdullah Saleem, 75, of the 400 block of Jean Street in Gilberts, will next appear before Judge James Karahalios Wednesday, March 25, at the Cook County Courthouse in Rolling Meadows. No reason was given for the imam's request for a different judge.

Saleem is currently charged only with the assault of a former secretary at the Institute of Islamic Education school he established in Elgin in 1989, but three other women have joined her in a lawsuit alleging they were sexually abused by Saleem as well while they were minors.

Saleem's defense attorney Raymond Wigell has said his client denies the allegations.