Yusoff Rawther awarded RM80,000 in damages, Anwar’s aide held liable
Shah Alam, May 5 — The High Court has upheld the decision that Anwar Ibrahim’s press secretary Tunku Nashrul Tunku Abaidah is liable for defaming Yusoff Rawther over an alleged assault, but has allowed Nashrul’s appeal to reduce the damages awarded.
The RM200,000 awarded by a sessions court last year has been reduced to RM80,000, and Yusoff has also been awarded RM6,000 in costs. In addition, the High Court has maintained the order that Nashrul must publish an apology on terms acceptable to Yusoff and withdraw his defamatory media statement.
Yusoff filed the suit in September 2019, claiming that the statement made by Nashrul had lowered his reputation in the eyes of the public. Nashrul had issued the statement to deny allegations of an assault, which Yusoff claimed had taken place in Anwar’s office.
Yusoff worked at Anwar’s bungalow office in Bukit Gasing, Petaling Jaya, at the time of the alleged assault. Haniff Khatri Abdulla, Yusoff’s lawyer, said that Justice Khadijah Idris delivered her decision via email after hearing submissions on Feb 21 this year. Azwar Manab represented Nashrul in the case.
The remarks were made in the wake of a police report lodged by Yusoff, who claimed that he was physically attacked by Anwar’s then political secretary, Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak.
Yusoff also filed a separate civil suit against Farhash, claiming compensation for injuries sustained during the alleged assault. However, both parties settled the suit out of court last year.
Yusoff had previously accused Anwar of sexually assaulting him 10 days before Anwar won the Port Dickson by-election on Oct 13, 2018. Anwar has denied the claim, and the matter is still pending in court.
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