Musa’s suit against Anwar set for trial on Oct 16
KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 — The High Court here today set three days, beginning Oct 16, for a full trial of a suit filed by former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan against Opposition Chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the 1998 "black-eye" incident.
Justice Datuk Asmabi Mohamad set the dates in chambers after meeting lawyers KK Lim, representing Musa, and Bani Prakash, who represented Anwar.
Bani, when met by reporters, said the court set Oct 16 to 18 to hear the case, and also May 24 for case management to allow the plaintiff to file issues to be tried during hearing of the case.
Anwar lodged a report at the Selangor police contingent headquarters on July 1, 2008, claiming that Musa and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had fabricated evidence and hidden some facts in the investigation into the physical assault on him by the then IGP, Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Noor, in 1998.
Following which, on July 21, 2008, Musa (left) filed a suit against Anwar claiming that the allegations were baseless and not true and had tarnished his reputation, image, honour and good name, and also in his professional capacity.
In the statement of claim, Musa denied taking part in a conspiracy to fabricate evidence and hide facts pertaining to the assault.
He also said that he had never abused his power in any way in the investigations into Anwar's corruption and sodomy cases.
Musa also claimed that Anwar had acted mala fide in lodging the police report against him and Abdul Gani and had done so because he was facing a fresh sodomy allegation.
Musa is seeking general, exemplary and aggravated damages, an interest of eight per cent, costs and other reliefs deemed fit by the court. The amount sought was not specified in the statement of claim.
He is also seeking an injunction to stop Anwar from repeating the alleged defamatory remarks.
Anwar, in his statement of defence filed on Oct 24, 2008, said the police report was made on an occasion of absolute privilege and justification. — Bernama
