Hamtramck, MI – Community activist Ibrahim Aljahim has been found not guilty of sexual assault charges by Judge Alexis Krot in a recent trial. The case involved allegations that Aljahim sexually assaulted a special education student at Oakland International Academy in 2019.
Aljahim, now in his 40s, has consistently asserted his innocence regarding the charges. The alleged victim, who was 18 years old at the time of the incident, has not been identified due to privacy laws protecting victims of sexual assault.
In a previous attempt to bring Aljahim to trial in 2019, the case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence, particularly the lack of DNA evidence and contradictory testimony from the alleged victim. Under the legal principle known as “double jeopardy,” a person cannot be charged or tried for the same crime more than once after a verdict has been reached. This principle is enshrined in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects individuals from being subjected to multiple prosecutions for the same offense. However, in this case, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office indicated that they had gathered new evidence, allowing for a new trial to proceed.
Originally charged in 2022 with first-degree sexual assault of a mentally disabled student, Aljahim’s case faced delays due to various motions and a change of legal representation. The current presiding judge is Bridget Mary Hathaway.
The allegations state that Aljahim forced the student to perform a sexual act while he was serving as a Community Liaison Officer at the school. It is claimed that he took the student out of the school and into his car, where the alleged assault occurred. Aljahim is no longer employed by the school.
In addition to his legal challenges, Aljahim has remained active in the community, participating in various political events and attending city council meetings. He was present at the recent graduation ceremony for the Hamtramck Police Department’s Youth Academy, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to community engagement.
If found guilty, Aljahim could have faced a significant prison sentence. Conversely, if the prosecution were dissatisfied with the not guilty verdict, they would generally face challenges in appealing the decision, as appeals in criminal cases are typically limited to legal errors that occurred during the trial rather than the jury’s assessment of the evidence. Additionally, the double jeopardy clause would prevent the state from retrying Aljahim on the same charges. He was arrested in Mississippi before being recharged in Michigan in 2022 and has been out on a $500,000 bond, of which he posted 10 percent, while wearing a tether.
