‘Utterly false and fabricated’ – Anwar denies sexually assaulting ex-aide
Anwar Ibrahim says former research assistant Muhammed Yusoff Rawther manufactured evidence to tarnish his political image.
KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has denied that he sexually assaulted his former research assistant at his private residence in Segambut three years ago.
The PKR president dismissed Muhammed Yusoff Rawther’s contention that he came to meet him at his residence at about 3pm on Oct 2, 2018, when the alleged incident took place.
“DSAI (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) did not meet Yusoff at his residence (on Oct 2, 2018) as alleged,” said the statement of defence filed yesterday sighted by FMT.
Instead, Anwar said, he was entertaining his family and friends between 2pm and 6pm that day.
He said Yusoff’s statement was “utterly false and fabricated”.
Anwar has also filed a counterclaim that Yusoff manufactured evidence in connivance with persons currently unknown to tarnish his political image.
This, he said, was done to first prevent him from becoming the prime minister, taking over the reign from Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“The allegations were aimed at smearing his political reputation ahead of the 14th PKR national congress and impending transitional process of the country’s premiership from Mahathir,” added the statement in the counterclaim filed by Messrs Jeffrey Lee.
Anwar contended that the congress was held in Melaka in December 2019 and at the time, there was friction between him and supporters of his then deputy president Azmin Ali.
He said Yusoff’s suit was an abuse of process and he did not file a claim with the intention of seeking a legal redress.
He said the plaintiff only affirmed a statutory declaration on Nov 19, 2019, which was more than a year after the alleged sexual assault and two weeks before the congress.
He also said Yusoff timed his suit “in or around the time there was possibility of him becoming prime minister following the political uncertainty in the middle of this year”.
This was the time when Umno MPs had called on then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin to step down and pave the way for him to replace Muhyiddin, he said.
Anwar is also asking for damages and other relief deemed fit by the court.
In his statement of claim filed in July, Yusoff alleged that Anwar sexually assaulted and molested him at his (Anwar’s) home in Segambut on Oct 2, 2018.
According to Yusoff, he was asked by the defendant’s private secretary, Shukri Saad, to hand over the text of a speech for Anwar to deliver to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birthday. He claimed that was when Anwar sexually assaulted him.
There was no communication between him and Anwar for about a month after the alleged incident, he said, although he was still working for Anwar before his resignation on June 24, 2019.
Yusoff lodged a police report against Anwar on Dec 7, 2019.
He also claimed he was accused of conspiring to bring down and damage Anwar’s political career, and this had affected his mental health.
KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has denied that he sexually assaulted his former research assistant at his private residence in Segambut three years ago.
The PKR president dismissed Muhammed Yusoff Rawther’s contention that he came to meet him at his residence at about 3pm on Oct 2, 2018, when the alleged incident took place.
“DSAI (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) did not meet Yusoff at his residence (on Oct 2, 2018) as alleged,” said the statement of defence filed yesterday sighted by FMT.
Instead, Anwar said, he was entertaining his family and friends between 2pm and 6pm that day.
He said Yusoff’s statement was “utterly false and fabricated”.
Anwar has also filed a counterclaim that Yusoff manufactured evidence in connivance with persons currently unknown to tarnish his political image.
This, he said, was done to first prevent him from becoming the prime minister, taking over the reign from Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“The allegations were aimed at smearing his political reputation ahead of the 14th PKR national congress and impending transitional process of the country’s premiership from Mahathir,” added the statement in the counterclaim filed by Messrs Jeffrey Lee.
Anwar contended that the congress was held in Melaka in December 2019 and at the time, there was friction between him and supporters of his then deputy president Azmin Ali.
He said Yusoff’s suit was an abuse of process and he did not file a claim with the intention of seeking a legal redress.
He said the plaintiff only affirmed a statutory declaration on Nov 19, 2019, which was more than a year after the alleged sexual assault and two weeks before the congress.
He also said Yusoff timed his suit “in or around the time there was possibility of him becoming prime minister following the political uncertainty in the middle of this year”.
This was the time when Umno MPs had called on then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin to step down and pave the way for him to replace Muhyiddin, he said.
Anwar is also asking for damages and other relief deemed fit by the court.
In his statement of claim filed in July, Yusoff alleged that Anwar sexually assaulted and molested him at his (Anwar’s) home in Segambut on Oct 2, 2018.
According to Yusoff, he was asked by the defendant’s private secretary, Shukri Saad, to hand over the text of a speech for Anwar to deliver to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birthday. He claimed that was when Anwar sexually assaulted him.
There was no communication between him and Anwar for about a month after the alleged incident, he said, although he was still working for Anwar before his resignation on June 24, 2019.
Yusoff lodged a police report against Anwar on Dec 7, 2019.
He also claimed he was accused of conspiring to bring down and damage Anwar’s political career, and this had affected his mental health.
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