KUALA LUMPUR (April 8): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s former aide Muhammed Yusoff Rawther will challenge Anwar’s attempt to get the court to make early rulings that could end the sexual assault lawsuit before the trial starts.
Following a case management on Wednesday, Yusoff's lawyer Rafique Rashid said that his client has given instructions to oppose Anwar's latest pre-trial application.
The lawyer added that the affidavit is to be filed by May 3 and a case management will be held the next day to set a hearing date.
Speaking to the press, Rafique also highlighted Anwar's multiple pre-trial applications and change of lawyers that have caused repeated delays to the trial, originally scheduled for June last year.
Lawyer Sanjay Mohan, who appeared for the prime minister on Wednesday, declined to comment on the case.
Anwar filed the application late last month through his solicitors Messrs Christopher & Lee Ong in the suit brought by Yusoff.
He wants the court to decide on several issues concerning Yusoff's movement and presence at Anwar's private residence on the day of the alleged assault in October 2018.
Anwar wants these issues to be decided either via affidavit or through in-camera (private) proceedings. He argues that resolving these specific points of contention first could potentially dispose of the case entirely, rendering a full trial unnecessary.
Yusoff filed his civil suit against Anwar in July 2021 where he alleged that the incident took place on Oct 2, 2018 in Anwar’s residence in Segambut here.
He claims that following his police report on the matter, he was accused of plotting to bring down Anwar and damage the PKR president's political career. He claims that the alleged sexual assault and the accusation have affected his mental health.
Anwar, meanwhile, has denied the claim and filed a countersuit.