Anwar Ibrahim Secures Stay in Civil Sexual Assault Suit Against Him

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has obtained a stay in the civil sexual assault suit filed against him in 2021 by former research officer Muhammed Yusoff Rawther. The Court of Appeal panel led by Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali granted the stay due to special circumstances, pending Anwar's appeal at the Federal Court to refer eight constitutional questions. The decision was made on September 1, with the next case management set for September 2.

Key Takeaways:

• Anwar Ibrahim's lawyer, Alan Wong, argued that a stay on trial proceedings was necessary to prevent the referral application to the Federal Court from being rendered nugatory.
• Anwar's application to stay trial proceedings was made after Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Roz Mawar Rozain rejected his bid to refer eight constitutional questions to the Federal Court on the immunity of a prime minister from a civil suit.
• The Court of Appeal panel granted the stay due to special circumstances, pending Anwar's appeal at the Federal Court.
• The suit filed by Muhammed Yusoff Rawther alleges civil sexual assault against Anwar Ibrahim.
• Anwar's team argued that the trial would disrupt the government's business for seven days if he were required to attend court.
• Yusoff's lawyer countered that the trial would not impair Anwar's ability to carry out his functions as prime minister.

Statistics:

• 2021: The year in which the civil sexual assault suit was filed against Anwar Ibrahim.
• 8: The number of constitutional questions referred by Anwar to the Federal Court.
• 1: The number of Court of Appeal panel members who granted the stay in the case.
• 2: The date set for the next case management after the Court of Appeal panel granted the stay.

Sources:

• "Putrajaya: PM Anwar Ibrahim gets stay in civil suit," The Star.