KUALA LUMPUR: The lawyer of Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, the former researcher who had accused Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of sexual assault, said his client is “aware of the consequences of telling lies.”
Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla said all his client is seeking is justice.
"Yusoff is not a young boy. He understands that if he tells a lie, he will pay the price.
‘Yet, he has taken the stand of making an SD (statutory declaration), lodge a report and come today to cooperate with the police to give his full statement on what happened,” Hanif told a press conference in Bukit Aman on Monday night.
Yusoff, 26, was summoned to the federal police headquarters to have his statement recorded as part of the investigation into his claims.
Yusoff spent seven hours with the police.
Last Wednesday, Yusoff claimed that he had been sexually assaulted by Anwar during his time working as a researcher with the latter. He claimed the incident took place at the PKR president’s house in October last year during the Port Dickson by-election.
Yusoff lodged a police report at the Sentul district police headquarters on Dec 7.
Anwar has denied the allegations.
Meanwhile, Haniff said his client had explained to the police on why he decided to only lodge a report more than a year after the alleged incident. However, Haniff said he was not at liberty to divulge the reason.
Haniff said police are currently investigating the case under Section 354 of the Penal Code for assault or use of criminal force to a person with intent to outrage modesty.
He also denied claims that Yusoff’s family members had received threats or were being harassed.
Meanwhile, Yusoff said he has the support of his family. He brushed aside criticism of him by his grand uncle, Mohideen Abdul Kader, who had previously questioned the credibility of his claims.
"My family is strong, they are fully supporting me. That grand uncle is someone I see once a year during Hari Raya; all of sudden he is an expert of my life, I am a bit surprised.
"My family came out with a statement, I will leave it at that. I just hope people who are not part of my family will not get involved in this matter," he said.
Mohideen, who is the Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) president, had raised doubts over the claims, and said it was odd that the family was unaware of the incident until it was made public.
He also claimed that Yusoff has been estranged from the family since the latter’s grandfather, the former CAP president S. M. Mohamed Idris, died early this year.
Mohideen said he believed that his nephew had been manipulated by certain quarters to serve their own interests.