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Sex assault case against Anwar Ibrahim dismissed by Malaysia’s solicitor general for ‘insufficient evidence’
- The prime minister-in-waiting had been accused of making advances towards Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, a former People’s Justice Party researcher
- Anwar said the claims were politically motivated and designed to prevent him from taking over power from Mahathir Mohamad
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Malaysia’s attorney general has dismissed allegations that prime minister-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim attempted to sexually assault a former aide.
“We found there is insufficient evidence to prosecute on the reports lodged based on the evidence available in the investigation papers,” the solicitor general Engku Nor Faizah Engku Atek said on Tuesday on behalf of the Attorney General’s Chambers.
Anwar, who has twice been jailed on sodomy charges he says were politically-motivated, had been accused of making sexual advances towards Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, a former researcher with the People’s Justice Party (PKR) that is led by Anwar.
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He denied the accusations, describing them as “politics at its worst” and saying they were designed to prevent him taking over from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, 94, who led the Pakatan Harapan coalition to its shock victory in the 2018 general elections.
Following the statement from the solicitor general Anwar said he “welcomed the decision to bring an end to this matter and I thank the authorities for their professionalism”.
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“While legitimate claims should be investigated according to due process, we cannot condone frivolous, vexatious and scurrilous allegations, especially when they impugn the integrity and honour of innocent Malaysians,” he added.
Anwar said he intended to pursue a defamation suit against his accuser.
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