KUALA LUMPUR – The High Court here Friday granted an order for full trial in a defamation suit filed by Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on the black-eye incident in 1998.

Judicial Commissioner Dr Prasad Sandosham Abraham ordered Anwar to amend his statement of defence against the suit.

Prasad decided that the absolute protection mentioned in Anwar's defence could only be accepted by the court if he managed to prove that he had an urgent need to disclose a police report on the black-eye incident in 1998 at a news conference.

Accordingly, the issue will be argued in court during the full trial.

Prasad then set Oct 13 for the next case management of the suit.

Anwar lodged a report at the Selangor police contingent headquarters on July 1, 2008, claiming that Musa and Attorney-General 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.

Musa, in his statement of claim filed on July 21, 2008, said the allegation was baseless and not true and had tarnished his personal reputation, image, honour and good name and also in his professional capacity.

He denied taking part in a conspiracy to fabricate evidence and hide some facts pertaining to the assault.

He also said that he had never abused his power in any way in the investigation into Anwar's corruption and sodomy cases.

He said 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, eight per cent interest, costs and other reliefs deemed fit by the court. The amount sought was not specified in his statement of claim.

He is also applying for an injunction to stop the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor or his agents 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