ILLINOIS
Fox 32
ELGIN, Ill. (STMW) – A nationally renowned Islamic leader accused of sexually abusing a girl who attended his Elgin school was ordered held on a $1 million bond Wednesday.
Mohammed Abdullah Saleem, 75, turned himself in to Elgin police Wednesday morning and was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor, according to Elgin police and the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.
The victim began attending the Institute of Islamic Education in August 2001 when she was 14, according to prosecutors. Saleem founded the school in 1989 as a full-time residential educational institution for students in 6-12.
About one month later, Saleem requested the girl visit him in his office once a week, prosecutors said. During the visits, Saleem would force the girl to sit on his lap, touch and fondle her in a sexual manner, and give her gifts, including a gold necklace and cash.
The abuse continued until September 2003, when the victim moved out of state to finish high school, prosecutors said. In December 2014 the victim disclosed details of the abuse to a witness, who contacted Elgin police, who were already investigating Saleem for similar crimes.
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