22/07/2025

TUESDAY | JULY 22, 2025 5 Stay granted on sexual assault suit against PM PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has granted a stay in the civil suit filed against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in 2021 by his former research officer Muhammed Yusoff Rawther over allegations of sexual assault. The decision effectively puts the High Court trial on hold, pending the outcome of constitutional issues that are being brought before the Federal Court. The decision, made by a three-member panel yesterday, means the trial will not proceed until the appellate court hears the prime minister’s appeal against the High Court’s refusal to refer key constitutional questions to the apex court. Case management has been set for Sept 2, during which a hearing date for the appeal will be scheduled. In a statement, Anwar’s lead counsel Datuk Seri Rajasegaran S. Krishnan stressed that the prime minister is not seeking immunity from legal action or attempting to avoid trial. “The prime minister is simply asserting his right to raise constitutional questions of public importance before the trial begins,” he said. Among the questions raised are whether civil suits involving a sitting prime minister’s conduct prior to taking office should be subject to safeguards, and whether there should be protection from politically motivated suits aimed at undermining a government – similar to SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) cases. The legal team also questioned whether a filtering mechanism should be in place, similar to those applied to judges or Malay Rulers under Article 183 of the Federal Constitution before such suits are allowed to proceed. “These are serious and unprecedented questions. If not addressed, any prime minister could be targeted with lawsuits timed for political impact, risking the stability of the executive,” the statement added. The stay allows the appellate courts to consider the constitutional implications before the trial resumes. “The prime minister has nothing to hide and is ready to respond to all claims through a process that respects the constitution and the balance of powers it upholds,” said Rajasegaran. The civil suit against Anwar was filed by Yusoff who alleged that he was sexually harassed by Anwar in 2018. The lawsuit, filed in 2021, claims the incident took place at Anwar’s private office. Anwar has strongly denied the allegation, calling it baseless and politically motivated. The High Court had previously fixed the trial to begin in June this year. Anwar had sought the apex court to rule whether Articles 5, 8, 39, 40 and 43 of the Federal Constitution grant him qualified immunity from Yusoff’s suit. Anwar had asked the court to decide whether Yusoff’s suit would impair the effective discharge of his executive duties and undermine the constitutional separation of powers. He had also requested the court to consider whether the lawsuit impacts his ability to carry out executive duties and undermines the principle of separation of powers guaranteed by the constitution. Ű BY THE SUN TEAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Father acquitted of neglect in Zayn Rayyan case

o Court orders mother to enter defence after prosecution failed to establish prima facie case against dad

PETALING JAYA: The Sessions Court yesterday acquitted and discharged Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin’s father, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, from the charge of neglecting his six year-old autistic son, allegedly resulting in physical harm two years ago. Judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh delivered the decision after concluding that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against Zaim Ikhwan, 30, at the close of the prosecution’s case. However, the court ordered the child’s mother, Ismanira Abdul Manaf, 30, to enter her defence on the same charge. Zaim Ikhwan and Ismanira were jointly charged with neglecting Zayn Rayyan in a manner likely to cause physical harm in the vicinity of Block R, Idaman Apartments, Damansara Damai, extending to a nearby river area, between noon on Dec 5 and 9.55pm on Dec 6, 2023. The charge falls under Section 31(1)(a) of the Children Act 2001, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code. Upon conviction, it carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to RM50,000 or both. In her summary judgment, Syahliza said after evaluating the testimony of prosecution witnesses under maximum assessment and considering the submissions of both prosecution and defence, the court found insufficient evidence to prove a prima facie case against Zaim Ikhwan. “Therefore, the first accused, Zaim Ikhwan, is acquitted and discharged. As for the second accused, Ismanira, the court finds that the prosecution has succeeded in establishing a prima facie case, and she is required to enter her defence under Section 31(1)(a) of the Children Act 2001,” said Syahliza. Ismanira elected to give her defence under oath from the witness stand, Bernama reported. Earlier, the court informed her of three

Zaim Ikhwan and Ismanira at the Sessions Court yesterday. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

options – to remain silent, to deliver an unsworn statement from the dock without being cross-examined, or to testify under oath from the witness stand, subject to cross examination by the prosecution. Following the court’s decision, both Ismanira and her husband were seen in tears, embracing and receiving comfort from family members present.

Deputy public prosecutors Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, Aqharie Durranie Aziz and Nur Sabrina Zubairi appeared for the prosecution, while the couple were represented by counsel Haresh Mahadevan, Ramzani Idris and Lavanesh Haresh. Zayn Rayyan was reported missing on Dec 5, 2023. His body was found the following day in a stream near his home.

Elderly man loses RM158,000 to phone scam syndicate IPOH: An elderly man lost RM158,000 after being duped by a phone scam syndicate. claiming to be a police officer from the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters. accounts

supposedly facilitate investigations,“ Abang Zainal Abidin said in a statement yesterday, adding that the victim made 12 transactions into 12 different bank accounts. He said the victim lodged a police report yesterday after realising he had been cheated. – Bernama to

“The victim was told that he was involved in money laundering involving more than RM2 million, and an arrest warrant had been issued. “The victim was threatened and instructed to make various transactions to several bank

Ipoh police chief ACP Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the 73-year-old victim claimed to have received a call from an insurance company to inform him that he had arrears. The call was then transferred to a man

Chinese national student pleads not guilty to stabbing ex-girlfriend SHAH ALAM: A 22-year-old Chinese national and private university student pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday to a charge of causing grievous injury by stabbing his former girlfriend in the neck last week. in English by a court interpreter before Judge Norazlin Othman. You Wei is accused of intentionally causing grievous hurt to the victim, who is also a Chinese national, by stabbing the left side of her neck with a knife. second floor of a private university in Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya. He was charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and is liable to a fine or caning.

medication,” he said. The court allowed bail at RM20,000 with two sureties. The accused was also ordered to surrender his passport to the court, report to the nearest police station and refrain from contacting the victim or any prosecution witnesses. – Bernama

Jaysal did not offer bail. However, the accused’s lawyer Revin Kumar appealed for the court’s discretion to grant one, submitting that his client had fully cooperated during investigation. “The accused is undergoing treatment for bipolar disorder at a private clinic and is on prescribed

During yesterday’s proceedings, deputy public prosecutor Nurul Sofea

The alleged offence took place at about 6.30pm on July 14 on the

The accused, You Wei, entered the plea after the charge was read to him