MUHAMMAD Yusoff Rawther was allowed to withdraw his appeal to expunge part of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s statement of defence against his sexual assault suit, the Court of Appeal decided today. 

No grounds was given for the withdrawal.

The three-person bench chaired by Lee Swee Seng, however, ordered the former research assistant to pay RM5,000 in costs to Anwar for the last-minute withdrawal – which was only informed last month.

“The appeal, having been withdrawn, is hereby struck out,” Justice Lee said today. 

Other members of the bench were Justices Hashim Hamzah and Lim Chong Fong. 

Yusoff’s lawyer Reenajit Kaur Golen had earlier sought for no order as to costs as both sides have not given 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However, lawyer Navpreet Singh, who represented Anwar, sought a RM5,000 costs on grounds that the appellant himself had withdrawn the appeal despite having no development in the case.

Yusoff filed the appeal on September 28 last year over a decision by High Court judge judicial commissioner Dr John Lee Kien How @ Mohd Johan Lee, who on September 9 dismissed the former’s 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.

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 Yusoff’s suit.

Yusoff came into the limelight on December 4, 2018, during a press conference where he revealed his statutory declaration containing the sexual assault allegation against Anwar.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers announced on January 14, 2020, that there was a lack of evidence to charge Anwar at the criminal court over the allegation. Later in July 2021, Yusoff filed the lawsuit at the civil court.

In his statement of claim, Yusoff is seeking a declaration that Anwar had perpetrated sexual assault and/or trespass against him.

He is also seeking RM180 per therapy session, exemplary damages, court costs, at 5% interest per annum on any possible judgment sum and other miscellaneous costs or damages. – April 7, 2023.