Islamic school chief pleads not guilty to sexual abuse

ILLINOIS
Houston Chronicle

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. (AP) — The head of a suburban Chicago Islamic school has pleaded not guilty to eight criminal counts alleging he sexually abused an employee.

Seventy-five-year-old Mohammad Abdullah Saleem entered the plea Wednesday before a Cook County judge. The founder of the Institute of Islamic Education in Elgin was indicted on charges including aggravated criminal sexual abuse, aggravated battery of a school employee and unlawful restraint.

If convicted, Saleem could face up to five years in prison. He’s free on $250,000 bond.

The Arlington Heights Daily Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1EUpgLR ) Saleem’s 22-year-old accuser has claimed he repeatedly hugged, touched and massaged her against her will in her school office.

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