KUALA LUMPUR (March 3): High Court judge Roz Mawar Rozain will now preside over Muhammed Yusoff Rawther’s sexual assault suit against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as well as the prime minister’s counterclaim.
She takes over from High Court judge John Lee Kien How @ Mohd Johan Lee, who has been transferred to the Alor Setar High Court.
The June-trial dates set previously have been maintained. The court is slated to hear the matter from June 16 to 19, and June 23 to 25. It will also hear Anwar’s counterclaim.
The 31-year-old ex-aide to Anwar filed his civil suit in July 2021, in which he alleges that Anwar had sexually assaulted him on Oct 2, 2018, in Anwar’s residence in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur.
Muhammaed Yusoff claims that following his police report on the matter, he was accused of plotting to bring down Anwar and damage the Parti Keadilan Rakyat president’s political career. He claims that the alleged sexual assault and the accusation against him have affected his mental health.
As such, Muhammed Yusoff is seeking from Anwar special, general, aggravated, and exemplary damages, as well as interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.
Anwar, meanwhile, has denied the claim and filed a countersuit.
In this case, Muhammed Yusoff is represented by Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, while Anwar is represented by Navpreet Singh.
Muhammed Yusoff’s civil suit comes after he made a statutory declaration and a police report over the incident in 2019.
In January 2020, the Attorney General’s Chambers said that it would not press charges against Anwar.
Ex-aide’s joint criminal trial to begin in April
Muhammed Yusoff is also facing criminal charges against him for allegedly trafficking 305 grammes of cannabis, and with possession of imitation pistols. He was charged separately late last year for the two offences and has pleaded not guilty to both.
The trial is slated to begin in April this year.
The drug charge, which is framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, is punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same Act, which carries a life sentence and also whipping of not less than 12 lashes, if convicted.
The possession of fake pistols is framed under Section 36(1) of the Arms Act 1960. If found guilty, Muhammad Yusoff faces a maximum imprisonment term of one year, or a maximum fine of up to RM5,000, or both.