KUALA LUMPUR – The high court today ordered PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to file his statement of defence in response to a suit by his former research assistant Muhammed Yusoff Rawther alleging sexual assault.
Counsel Mahajoth Singh, representing Yusoff, said Anwar was ordered by the court to file his defence statement by September 28.
“The court also set October 29 for further case management,” he told Bernama after case management via e-review before high court deputy registrar Idamasliza Maarof today.
Anwar’s lawyer Ranjit Singh confirmed the matter, and said the court also directed the parties involved to file any interlocutory applications before October 29.
Yusoff, 28, filed the suit on July 14, claiming that the sexual assault took place on October 2, 2018 at Anwar’s residence in Segambut.
He said the 73-year-old opposition leader sexually assaulted and molested him, despite him rejecting the latter’s actions and asking him to stop.
As a result of the incident, said Yusoff, he was accused of plotting to bring down Anwar and damage the Port Dickson MP’s political career, and this has affected his mental health.
He is seeking special, general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as interest, costs and other relief deem fit by the court. – Bernama, September 9, 2021
