Anwar Ibrahim's former aide Rahimi Osman has denied that he was fearful of police arrest when he met PKR lawyer Latheefa Koya and  at Quality Hotel in June 2008, saying he had just been in the presence of investigating officers on the Anwar case prior to their meeting.

NONE Rahimi ( left ) said this in a response he sent Malaysiakini to a report on Latheefa’s account of what transpired during their encounter at the hotel at the time when news of Anwar’s sodomy allegations first broke.

The 25-year-old who worked with PKR from 2007 to 2008 had earlier this week lodged a police report alleging that he had been forced to make two statutory declarations in 2008 implicating the prime minister and his wife in the Sodomy II saga.

Rahimi’s comments to Malaysiakini is reproduced below in full:

“Before I went to Quality Hotel, I was at Kuala Lumpur Hospital with Saiful, his uncle, hospital staff and doctors and many members of the police, including the Criminal Investigation unit. I was able to meet and talk with them at length.

“It was actually Anwar’s people who actually called me relentlessly to ask me to go to Quality Hotel. At first I was reluctant to go, but my parents advised me to go and meet with Anwar out of respect to him, as it had not been established that he was guilty.

                                

tian chua media police suit pc 090307 latheefa koya “So, why did Latheefa ( right ) say that I feared police arrest and sought the protection of those at Quality Hotel? I've just returned from the hospital, where I chatted and mingled with many members of the police handling Saiful’s case, so this statement is amongst the most hilarious by Latheefa.

“In fact, it is Anwar who was in fear. His face was pale, and when I shook hands with him his hand was trembling. I can challenge the party leaders there that night at the Quality Hotel to deny that Anwar ( below ) face was pale. If he is a hero and not afraid, why did he have to run to the Turkish embassy?

“I have already told Sivarasa and Latheefa that time at Quality Hotel what really happened. But they insisted that I change the story.

NONE “I am not surprised at all that Latheefa can lie. Because she was the one who busied herself coaching me over and over again to give a false statements to the court.

(This happened) to the point of demonstrating to me the situation in court and questions that they would ask me.

“I sympathise with Latheefa for being used and manipulated. Although not a few people in PKR dislike her because she is very loudmouthed, it is these people who make use of her to safeguard their respective positions.

”I apologise to Latheefa if my statements make life difficult for her... but as a lawyer she should understand what I am doing to rectify past mistakes.

“I sincerely pray that Latheefa will not be made use of again. Ameen.”