KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has filed a defamation suit against his former aide who alleged that the politician had sodomised him last week.
The suit, which named the aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, as the defendant, claimed that the police report lodged by him on Saturday was malicious, false and an abuse of the court process.
The writ of summons was filed at 10.30am at the High Court civil registry by Messrs Ranjit Ooi & Robert Low.
Also present were lawyers R. Sivarasa, Ranjit Singh and William Leong, together with other PKR representatives, including Elizabeth Wong, Latheefa Koya and Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.
Some 50 members of local and foreign media were present at the registry.
According to the endorsement of claim, Anwar contended that Mohd Saiful lodged the report to harm him and destroy him politically.
It claimed that Mohd Saiful had lodged the report with the knowledge that it would receive wide national and international media coverage although he knew no sodomy had taken place.
It further stated that Mohd Saiful had acted in this manner knowing that Anwar intended to stand for election as a member of parliament in the future.
“In consequence, Anwar’s reputation has been seriously injured and he has suffered considerable distress and embarrassment,” it said.
Anwar is claiming damages for abuse and vexatious use of process, malicious falsehood and libel in addition to aggravated and exemplary damages.
At a press conference after the filing, Sivarasa told reporters that the police report was politically motivated.
“He (Anwar) wants to have his day in court as soon as possible.
“The statement of claim will be filed in a week or so,” he said.
Counsel Ranjit Singh said he had applied for an early date for the hearing as the issue was one of public interest.
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