KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has fixed Aug 4 to hear Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's application for a pre-trial ruling on several issues relating to a sexual assault lawsuit by former research assistant Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, says the plaintiff’s lawyer.
Muhammed Yusoff's counsel Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali said the date was set by Justice Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan during in-chambers proceedings on Monday (May 4).
He said the plaintiff had also filed an objection to Anwar's application for a pre-trial ruling, known as Enclosure 186.
On March 31, Anwar filed the application under Sections 15 and 15A of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964, stating that a determination of preliminary issues could dispose of the suit, render a trial unnecessary and save time and expenditure.
Among the questions raised in Anwar’s application are whether his former private secretary Shukri Saad instructed Muhammed Yusoff to personally deliver a copy of a speech to Anwar’s then Bukit Segambut Dalam residence on Oct 2, 2018; whether Muhammed Yusoff travelled with Anwar’s former security personnel Norafee Ahmad @ Dekdi from Anwar’s office in Petaling Jaya to the Bukit Segambut residence around 3pm on the same day; and whether the alleged meeting between them at the residence took place.
Anwar also sought for the issues to be decided either by affidavit or through in-camera proceedings without the presence of the media.
Muhammad Rafique said the plaintiff had filed an affidavit in reply to Enclosure 186, claiming Anwar had deliberately tried to delay the trial.
"It has been five years since we filed the legal action but the trial has not begun," he said.
He added that the court instructed the defendant to reply to the plaintiff’s objection by May 25 and for parties to file their submissions by June 25.
Court documents sighted by The Star showed Muhammed Yusoff pleaded that the issues raised in Anwar’s application could only be ventilated at a full trial and not through determination of preliminary issues.
Muhammed Yusoff filed the suit on July 14, 2021, alleging Anwar sexually assaulted him on Oct 2, 2018 at Anwar’s residence in Segambut.
He claimed the incident led to accusations that he was plotting to bring down Anwar and damage the PKR president’s political career, affecting his mental health.
He is seeking special, general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.
Anwar has denied the allegations and filed a countersuit.
In his statement of defence, Anwar said the allegations were "utterly false and fabricated".
He said the alleged assault could not have occurred as he was entertaining family and friends at his Bukit Segambut residence on the date in question.
