HAMTRAMCK, Mich. – The hearing Thursday for Ibrahim Aljahim is a preliminary exam during which the judge is looking to see if there's enough evidence.
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However, the defendant is so politically connected that the judge herself offered to step aside
Aljahim is a community liaison at Oakland International Academy and a Democratic political activist. He's now accused of taking a student with special needs out of school and sexually assaulting him in a car parked across the street.
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Aljahim is so tied in to Hamtramck politics that district Judge Alexis Krot had to first say that Aljahim helped get her elected to the bench.
"I had an election last year, he helped me … I want everyone to note that," said Krot.
Krot said she would be neutral on the case, but would step aside if need be. The prosecution and defense said they had no problem with her overseeing this case.
Last time in court, prosecutors revealed Aljahim is also under investigation for three other alleged sexual assaults -- two alleged victims under the age of 16 and one over 18, but that victim is disabled.
Aljahim's lawyer also revealed what his defense will be: He is accusing three Oakland International Academy students of actually attacking the teen. But those teens were interviewed and police cleared them.
"These three individuals are the ones who accused him of doing, the same individuals, the police let them leave," said defense attorney Robert Farinha.
The judge will have to decide if there's enough evidence to move forward.