19.06 - Press Release - On June 16, 2003, a hearing was held in Superior Court in Carolina, Puerto Rico, to determine probable cause regarding criminal charges filed against Murad Muhammad by Sampson Lewkowicz.

The charges stem from an incident that took place on May 28, 2003, during the International Boxing Federation convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

At the hearing, the judge needed to determine probable cause, as well as the credibility of the witnesses and evidence to decide if the case would go to trial.

Mr. Lewkowicz told his side of the incident, and the witness for the defense, Mr. Elihu Bey, Mr. Muhammad's personal bodyguard, told his side of the incident. Mr. Muhammad attended the hearing but did not speak, and was represented by his attorney.

Another participant at this hearing was officer Gilbert De La Cruz of the Carolina Municipal Police, who did the on-scene investigation and concurred with Mr. Lewkowicz regarding his injuries, as did the documentation sent by the physician who treated his injuries.

The attorney for the defense argued very strongly to dismiss the case, but the judge determined that there was sufficient evidence and credibility of the witnesses to proceed forward to a trial.

The trial has been scheduled for July 7, 2003 at 8:30 A.M. in courtroom 204 in Superior Court in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

Mr. Lewkowicz' attorney, Mr. Benjamin Angueira, said that the criminal charges are for assault and battery, which carry a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a $500.00 fine. Mr. Angueira is still waiting for an answer from Mr. Muhammad on the civil suit for assault and defamation of character for the amount of $3 million.