KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 ― Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a former aide of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who had accused the former opposition leader of sodomy, withdrew today his RM50 million defamation suit against the latter.
Lawyer Latheefa Koya who represented Anwar said the counsel for Mohd Saiful had informed High Court judge Azmi Adnan of his client’s intent earlier this morning during case management, but offered no reason for the withdrawal.
“Saiful's lawyer, Zamri [Idus] informed the court that they wish to withdraw the suit against Anwar. No reason was given.
“That is the end of the matter and the matter is closed. Which means Saiful has no claim against Anwar,” she told reporters outside the courtroom here.
Latheefa added that Saiful's withdrawal today “reaffirms the innocence of Anwar and his stand.”
Anwar is currently being incarcerated at the Sungai Buloh Prison for five years after the Federal Court on February 10 convicted him of being guilty for sodomising Saiful.
Saiful had also filed a civil suit in June last year seeking damages for his alleged losses and physical pain and suffering since the sodomy incident in 2008.
In his statement of claim, Saiful said Anwar had falsely accused him of conspiring against him with his police report and defaming him.
Anwar, however, denied that the allegations were false and said the defamation suit was pointless because Saiful had no reasonable cause of action.
Before the case was withdrawn today, the judge had previously set August 10 as the date for trial to start.
