Anwar to sue Yusoff over 'sexual misconduct' claim next week

• UPDATED 9.40PM | Added comments from Anwar's lawyer Ramkarpal Singh.
  

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim's defamation suit against Muhammad Yusoff Rawther will be filed in court next week, said Anwar's lawyer Ramkarpal Singh.

In a statement this evening - which came hours after Yusoff held a press conference challenging Anwar to bring him to court - Ramkarpal said he has received instruction from the PKR leader several days ago.

"This is to confirm that I had received instructions from Anwar a few days ago to commence a defamation suit against Yusoff in respect of the contents of a statutory declaration made by him on Nov 19, 2019.

"As the police investigations into the allegations in the said SD is now complete with the solicitor-general announcing recently that Anwar will not be charged as a result of such investigations, I will take the necessary steps to file the said defamation suit next week," he said.

Earlier today, Yusoff told a press conference held at his lawyer's office that he has not been served any summons from Anwar yet.

It was also revealed that Yusoff has planned to file a civil suit against the politician in relation to his sexual misconduct allegation.

In order to do so, his lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla's said the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) must explain the statement that there were "contradictions of material facts" which could not support prosecution under Section 354 of the Penal Code.

He said the clarification is crucial for his client's next course of action in his claim against Anwar.

"In my opinion, this paragraph requires further explanation. Is the contradiction found only from the side of the accuser (Yusoff) or contradictions on both sides?

"Why I am touching on this issue is because, in a court case, the complainant or victim has an option. In some instances, he can take civil action.

"If the prosecutor decides not to prosecute, whether he (Yusoff) would move forward with a civil action (or otherwise), this statement needs to be made clear (first),” he told reporters in Petaling Jaya today (below).

Apart from the "contradictions", Solicitor-General Engku Nor Faizah Engku Atek said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute on the reports lodged based on the evidence available in the investigation papers.

Under these circumstances, she added, the AGC agreed with the police that the case be closed.

For the record, Section 354 concerns punishment for a person who is found guilty of assault with the intention to outrage another person's modesty.

Yusoff to Anwar: Bring it on

Meanwhile, Yusoff also appeared to be looking forward to a legal tussle with Anwar when commenting on the latter's move to sue him.

Asked how he felt about this, he replied: “Bring it on. Anwar wants to sue me, bring it on.”

However, Yusoff said neither him nor his lawyer have been served with the summons with regard to this matter.

Although Anwar had welcomed the AGC's decision not to initiate prosecution, PKR lawmakers criticised Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador for appearing to lend credence to Yusoff's allegations.

On Wednesday, Hamid, when commenting on the AGC's decision, said: "It (the alleged incident) happened so long ago, one or two years ago. It is difficult, we need physical evidence and all."

"Whether he (Yusoff) is speaking the truth or not, that is another question. But what corroborative evidence do we have? That is the problem,” he had said.

On Dec 7 last year, Yusoff had filed a police report urging for an investigation into his claims made in an earlier statutory declaration (SD).

In the SD, Yusoff claimed that he was a victim of molest, indecent exposure and indecent proposals by Anwar at the latter’s Segambut home on Oct 2, 2018.