Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today sought to strike out certain paragraphs of Anwar Ibrahim's defence in the sex video tape suit the minister had filed.

NONE Hishammuddin (left) is suing Anwar for defamation on statements Anwar made about the sex tape allegedly depicting him, which the opposition leader has denied.

Hishammuddin's application was relayed to the High Court in Kuala Lumpur by the minister's lawyer, Sunil Abraham.

Justice VT Singham fixed Aug 26 for the case management to continue.

Lawyer J Leela appeared for Anwar, who has already filed his counter-claim.

Hishammuddin, 50, in his suit claimed Anwar’s words meant he was responsible for screening the video to a group of editors and journalists at Carcosa Seri Negara hotel on March 21.

The minister said the words also meant that he arranged for the screening of the video and plotted with the prime minister and the police top brass to have it done.

Anwar’s defence and counter-claim

Anwar in his defence filed on May 25, claimed the defence of qualified privilege and alleges that as a former deputy prime minister and present opposition leader, he has made various police reports on attacks and character assassination by Umno and BN politicians.

He also claimed the video was sensationalised before the Sarawak state election where the assembly was dissolved on March 21, the same day the video was shown.

“I have always consistently maintained that the allegations and attacks form part of a political conspiracy and persecution against me by politicians from the ruling coalition who had abused their statutory and governmental powers,” he said in his defence.

“The present video is the latest series of such personal attacks made against me. There is much publicity given particularly by the government-controlled press to all these allegations including that of the video,” said Anwar.

azlan Anwar, on the other hand, filed a counter-claim alleging the minister’s statement was malicious and with the innuendo that the opposition leader was unfit for public office.

The Datuk T trio of businessperson Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, former Malacca chief minister Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik and former Perkasa treasurer-general, Shuib Lazim, were also produced at the magistrates court in Kuala Lumpur on June 24, where they pleaded guilty and were fined a total of RM5,500 for possession and distribution of pornography.

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