Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Anwar files defamation suit

The Star : Tuesday July 1, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has filed a suit against his former aide for lodging an allegedly malicious false report against him and defaming him.

Anwar has named Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 23, as a defendant in the suit filed at the civil division of the High Court registry here at 10.30am yesterday.

He filed a writ of summons and an indorsement of claim (summary of the claims) through the law firm of Messrs Ranjit Ooi & Robert Low.

In the summary, Anwar said Saiful had lodged a police report on Saturday claiming that the de facto leader of PKR had sodomised him on Thursday.

Anwar contended that Saiful had acted maliciously and lodged the police report for an ulterior and a collateral purpose to harm him and destroy him politically.

He further claimed that Saiful knew that the police report would receive wide national and international media coverage.

Anwar claimed that the sodomy never took place between them.

He said Saiful made the defamatory allegations knowing very well that he (Anwar) intended to stand for elections as a Member of Parliament in the near future.
He said the said words meant that Anwar engaged in unnatural sexual behaviour and was a homosexual.

Anwar said the words also implied that he had committed a heinous act contrary to the Muslim faith.

In consequence, Anwar said his reputation has been seriously injured and that he suffered considerable distress and embarrassment.

He is claiming damages for abuse and vexatious use of process, malicious falsehood and libel as well as other damages.

Speaking to reporters later, his lawyer R. Sivarasa, who is also PKR vice-president, said they would be filing a statement of claim for the suit within a week.

Asked if Anwar would apply to the court for an injunction to stop Saiful from using similar words against him, Sivarasa said it would be done according to circumstances.
Sivarasa, the MP for Subang, said the document would be served on Saiful as soon as possible.

His co-counsel Ranjit Singh said he had received instructions from Anwar to apply for an early trial date from the court to hear the suit as it was a matter of public interest.

Another of his lawyer, William Leong, said his client was receiving a lot of information from the public to assist him over the suit.

Sivarasa also said that the defence team would take necessary action when ready against two top government officials who allegedly played roles in fabricating and falsifying evidence against Anwar in 1998.

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