CHICAGO – Charges continue to mount against a Chicago Islamic leader for the alleged sexual assaults of girls and employees at the Institute of Islamic Education he founded in Elgin.

Mohammed Abdullah Saleem, 75, returned to court Wednesday to face a new indictment for aggravated criminal sexual abuse, criminal sexual abuse, attempted aggravated criminal sexual abuse, unlawful restraint and aggravated battery, the Chicago Tribune reports.

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The imam already stands accused of criminal sexual abuse and aggravated battery.

“He’s a holy man, and these accusations are troubling,” Raymond Wigell, Saleem’s attorney, told the news site.

Police allege Saleem fondled a 23-year-old woman who worked at the Institute of Islamic Education last April, and collected DNA evidence from the victim authorities believe is Saleem’s seamen. The woman also told police Saleem hugged, touched and massaged her against her will in her school office between October 2013 and April 2014, according to the Associated Press and other media reports.

Prosecutors told the Tribune the seamen is currently in testing.

Saleem’s attorney, however, seems to already be laying the groundwork for a defense.

“Wigel noted that DNA evidence does not necessarily equate to guilt,” the Tribune reports.

Meanwhile, a civil case involving several women who accuse Saleem of sexual assault is moving forward. That lawsuit involves the victim at the center of the criminal case, as well as other women who were minors when the alleged abuse occurred.

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The Daily Herald reports the alleged victim in the criminal case “and four others filed a lawsuit last month saying Saleem ‘took advantage of his position of power and authority … and the IIE covered it up,’ according to the plaintiffs’ attorney, Steven Denny.”

The Rolling Meadows courtroom was packed Wednesday, with some in support of Saleem and others backing his accusers, the Tribune reports.

“We simply say there should be fairness, justice and no sexual harassment in our community,” Habib Raja, a supporter of the alleged victims, told the news site. “There should be no exploitation, especially in our religion. It’s against Islamic principle.”

Saleem pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently free on a $250,000 bond, the AP reports.

“My client is holding up quite well,” Wigell told NBC Chicago. “This is a big stress on him. He is a 75-year-old man. We are not in a hurry with this case. We want to do it right, but the judge is holding our feet to the fire and making us do work in an expeditious manner.”

Saleem is a native of India and is a naturalized U.S. citizen with no criminal history, according to the Daily Herald.

News of accusations against Saleem has prompted a tepid response for the areas Islamic leaders.

“A lot of people depended upon his advice,” Mohammed Kaiseruddin, chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, told WBEZ. “So right now we are dealing with a dilemma that this person who is teaching the Quran to everybody was violating (the) Quran himself.”

“My thinking on this thing is that any sexual abuse, criminal abuse like this, cannot be kept secret, cannot be kept covered up,” Kaiseruddin said. “Justice has to be served.”

But many in Chicago’s Muslim community contend the Council is ignoring calls to investigate whether its leaders knew of sex abuse allegations against Saleem and what was done about it.

At least one imam, Abdul Malik Mujahid, knew of allegations against Saleem as long as 10 years ago, alleges Humaira Basith, a representative on the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago.

“In statements posted to Facebook and on the Council leadership listserv, Mujahid asserted that two religious leaders had quietly mediated a previous case involving a girl, that led to banning Saleem from offering Friday prayers at the mosque for two years. While Mujahid claimed to have heard this from one of those imams, he declined to identify them publicly,” WBEZ reports.