Judge dismisses sexual assault charges against Hamtramck activist

Niraj Warikoo | Detroit Free Press

A judge has dismissed criminal sexual assault charges against Ibrahim Aljahim, a prominent community activist in Hamtramck.

On Wednesday, after days of testimony during a preliminary hearing, Hamtramck District Court Judge Alexis Krot threw out two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree. The case involved a mentally disabled student who attended the school where Aljahim worked.

The 18-year-old student had alleged he was sexually assaulted by Aljahim, 37, outside the school the morning of Sept. 18. On Sept. 21, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced charges against Aljahim, who is known as an activist in the Yemeni American community and a political consultant for Democratic politicians.

A spokesperson for Worthy, Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Maria Miller, said Thursday in a statement about the dismissal of the charges: "The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office will evaluate the preliminary examination transcript to determine whether an appeal will be filed in this case.”

The attorney for Aljahim, Roger Farinha, told the Free Press on Thursday after the judge's decision that the student's claims were inconsistent. Farinha has argued that other students at the school may have been involved in a separate incident with the student.

"His story was not credible," Farinha said of the alleged victim. "It just wasn't credible."

Farinha said on the day of the alleged incident, the student had denied to authorities that the assault took place.

More: Attorneys for Hamtramck activist charged with sexual assault seek to dismiss case

More: Hamtramck student alleges he was sexually assaulted by school employee, a Dem activist

Aljahim is well-known among elected officials and the news media in metro Detroit, including the judge who dismissed the charges against him.

On his social media pages, he has photos of himself with a range of elected officials and government leaders, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, state Rep. Issac Robinson, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, and U.S. Rep. Andy Levin, D-Bloomfield Township.

Aljahim campaigned last month with Bernie Sanders during Sanders' campaign stop in Hamtramck.

Judge Krot said during a previous court hearing that Aljahim has helped her politically, reported WDIV. "I had an election last year," Krot said. "He helped me. ... He helped me get an endorsement."

Prosecutors did not object to having Krot preside over the case.

The student testified last month during the preliminary hearing that Aljahim engaged in oral sex with him in a car outside Oakland International Academy's high school in Hamtramck.

Officials at Oakland International Academy's high school in Hamtramck contacted Hamtramck Police about the alleged incidents, said prosecutors.

Aljahim's attorney, Farinha, questioned the testimony of the student, arguing it was inconsistent, and that prosecutors lacked credible evidence.

Farinha told the Free Press earlier that Aljahim did not commit sexual misconduct and in fact was trying to help the alleged male victim, who Farinha said was previously abused by other students.

According to Farinha, some students had exposed the alleged victim's private areas and took photos that they later circulated.

Farinha said that Aljahim then reported those incidents to the school principal.

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or 313-223-4792. Twitter @nwarikoo.