PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has struck out an appeal in relation to a sexual assault lawsuit by former research assistant Muhammed Yusoff Rawther against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, following its withdrawal.
Muhammad Yusoff's lawyer Reenajit Kaur Golen informed a three-judge panel of the appellate court that her client was withdrawing the appeal against a High Court‘s decision which dismissed his application to cancel several paragraphs in Anwar's statement of defence and counterclaim.
No reason was stated on the grounds of withdrawal.
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The panel was chaired by Justice Lee Swee Sweng with other judges, Justices Hashim Hamzah and Lim Chong Fong, also sitting on the bench.
"The appeal, having been withdrawn, is hereby struck out," Justice Lee said here on Friday (April 7).
The court also ordered Muhammad Yusoff to pay RM5,000 in costs to Anwar.
Reenajit had earlier sought for no order as to costs as both sides have not submitted their submissions.
However, lawyer Navpreet Singh, who represented Anwar, sought a RM5,000 costs on grounds that the appellant himself had withdrawn the appeal despite having no development in the case.
"This means he agrees with the High Court's decision.
"My client has been put through the expense of having to go through this (lawsuit).
"And the timeline of which he wants to withdraw the appeal, one month before the hearing and two days before the submission deadline," Navpreet said.
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Muhammad Yusoff filed the appeal on Sept 28, 2022.
The appeal was over a decision on Sept 9, 2022, by High Court judge Judicial Commissioner Dr John Lee Kien How @ Mohd Johan Lee who dismissed his application to expunge several paragraphs in Anwar’s statement of defence and counterclaim.
It was in relation to a lawsuit he filed against Anwar on July 14, 2021, regarding allegations of sexual assault by the politician four years ago.
In his statement of claim, Muhammed Yusoff alleged that the sexual assault took place on Oct 2, 2018, at Anwar’s residence in Segambut.
He claimed that as a result of the incident, he was accused of plotting to bring down Anwar and damage his political career, and this affected his health mentally.
He sought special, general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.
Anwar then filed a countersuit over Muhammed Yusoff’s suit.
