Ex-staff appeals to strike out Anwar's counterclaims in sexual assault suit

A former staff member of Anwar Ibrahim who brought a sexual assault suit against the PKR chief has filed an appeal against the recent High Court decision rejecting his application to strike out the opposition leader's counterclaims. 

Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, who sued Anwar in July 2021 for allegedly assaulting him four years ago, had filed to strike out several paragraphs from Anwar’s defence in September 2021. 

He sought to strike out six accusations against him, including those in which the veteran politician mentioned two individuals who are now deceased.

On Sept 9, however, the Kuala Lumpur High Court rejected his application and ordered him to pay RM3,500 in costs.

Yusoff said in his suit that the alleged incident had occurred at Anwar’s home in Bukit Segambut about 10 days before the PKR leader won the Port Dickson by-election on Oct 13, 2018.

He is seeking a court declaration that Anwar had committed the sexual assault, as well as general, exemplary and aggravated damages for suffering trauma as well as physical, psychological and sociological disturbances as a result of the alleged incident.

Yusoff first made the allegation against Anwar in a statutory declaration in November 2019, followed by a police report.

During an investigation by Bukit Aman under Section 354 of the Penal Code which deals with criminal force to outrage modesty, police subjected Yusoff to a four-hour polygraph test at Bukit Aman. Anwar meanwhile refused to take the test.

On Jan 14, 2020, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, then under Tommy Thomas, said it would not press charges against Anwar due to "insufficient evidence" and "contradictions" in facts.