Anwar files libel suit against aide
Malaysiakini.com
Jun 30, 2008
Syed Jaymal Zahiid 

PKR's de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim this morning filed a defamation suit against his aide over claims of sodomy.
MCPX

In the suit which was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court registry in Jalan Duta, Anwar also claimed that the police report lodged by Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan was an abuse of the process of law.

On Saturday the 23-year-old Saiful had lodged a police report claiming that Anwar had sodomised him at a luxury condominium in Damansara.

anwar defamation sodomy suit 300608 02The suit was today filed on Anwar's behalf by his lawyers. Anwar is presently seeking refuge at the Turkish embassy after claiming that his life was in danger.

His lawyers, led by Ranjit Singh (left), said the suit was aimed at clearing his name in court following the scandal which could derail his political aspirations of becoming prime minister.

PKR vice-president and lawyer S Sivarasa who also appeared on behalf of Anwar told reporters that they have asked for the heaing to be held soon.

"As instructed by Anwar, we have filed the suit and also asked that a hearing date be set as soon as possible, possibly within this year," said Sivarasa.

anwar defamation sodomy suit 300608 04Ranjit then added that the application for the hearing to be set within this year was made on the basis that the matter was of public interest.

Elaborating on the suit, Sivarasa said that the police report lodged by Saiful was a clear abuse of the process of law as the allegations were clearly baseless.

He also said that the allegations made by Saiful were politically motivated and ill-intended towards tarnishing Anwar's political reputation.

"Anwar is ready to stand in a proper forum, in court, and challenge the report lodged by Saiful in order to protect his political reputation," stressed Sivarasa.

Aide planted by Najib?

anwar defamation sodomy suit 300608 01Sivarasa also claimed that Anwar's wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has evidence in a form of a photo showing the alleged victim posing with an aide of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak at the latter's office in Putrajaya.

Najib today denied being part of any political conspiracy in a press conference in Parliament.

He said that the photo of his special officer with Saiful was taken when the 23-year-old came to his office to seek a government scholarship to pursue his studies.

When asked what would be PKR's next course of action, Sivarasah said that Anwar will be looking at lodging a police report against Saiful.

"We will also be contemplating of lodging a police report against Saiful based on available evidence and the press will be informed in due time," said Sivarasa.

anwar defamation sodomy suit 300608 03Meanwhile, Sivarasa also made fresh allegations against the Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail and Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan.

"We have received information that both the AG, who was the lead prosecutor, and the IGP, who was the investigating officer, at Anwar's sodomy and abuse of power trial 10 years ago had played a role in the setting up of Anwar by fabricating evidence," said Sivarasa.

PKR's treasurer William Leong said that they had received the information from "witnesses who is now stepping out of the climate of fear after the March 8 political tsunami".

Anwar: No acts of sodomy took place

Meanwhile in his statement of claim filed in the court, Anwar said that Saiful had acted maliciously and had lodged the police report for "an ulterior and a collateral purpose to harm and destroy" him politically.

"The defendant (Saiful) knew that no sodomy in fact took place between him and the plaintiff (Anwar) and that his allegation of sodomy was false yet he lodged the police report," said Anwar.

He added that Saiful also knew that his allegations in the police report would receive wide national and international media coverage, which it in fact did.

Anwar said that his reputation has been seriously injured and that he had suffered considerable distress and embarrassment as a result of the police report.

He also said that he had not and had never engaged in sodomy with Saiful.

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