KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has succeeded in his discovery application in relation to a civil suit filed by his former research aide Muhammed Yusoff Rawther.
Judicial Commissioner Dr John Lee Kien How @ Mohd Johan Lee allowed Anwar's application on the grounds that the documents sought were relevant to the lawsuit.
"All the documents required therein are related and necessary for the determination of the case," he said here on Wednesday (Jan 11).
The JC also fixed costs at RM1,000 to be paid by Muhammed Yusoff to Anwar.
Mahajoth Singh and Reenajit Kaur Golen appeared for Muhammed Yusoff while Anwar was represented by Navpreet Singh.
In his discovery application, Anwar sought copies of WhatsApp messages between him and Muhammed Yusoff from September 2018 to June 2019, and a copy of the latter's statutory declaration made in November 2019.
Anwar stated that the documents requested were important to verify the "factual events" pleaded by Muhammed Yusoff in his statement of claim.
He said it was necessary for him to peruse these documents as they were significant and would help with the fair disposal of the suit.
On July 14, 2021, Muhammed Yusoff filed the suit against Anwar for allegedly sexually assaulting him.
In his statement of claim, Muhammed Yusoff alleged that the sexual assault took place on Oct 2, 2018 at Anwar’s residence in Segambut.
The plaintiff claimed that as a result of the incident, he was accused of plotting to bring down Anwar and damage the PKR president's political career, and this affected his health mentally.
He is seeking special, general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.
Anwar then filed a countersuit.
In his statement of defence, Anwar said the allegations against him were “utterly false and fabricated”.
He claimed the alleged sexual assault could not have happened because he was entertaining family and friends at his Bukit Segambut residence.
