Inspector-general of police Musa Hassan this morning filed a defamation suit against Anwar Ibrahim over the PKR de facto leader's police report against him for allegedly fabricating evidence in the 1998 'black eye' incident.

The police chief filed the suit at the Kuala Lumpur High Court civil division registry through his lawyer Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin and Hasnal Redzua Merican.

Musa sought an unspecified amount of damages and also an injunction to restrain Anwar from repeating the allegation.

His suit today followed a demand letter which he sent to Anwar on July 11, asking the former deputy prime minister to apologise to him within 48 hours or face a legal suit.

Anwar has accused Musa and attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail of manipulating evidence in an investigation into an alleged beating he received while in police custody 10 years ago.

In 1998 Anwar was arrested and later jailed for sodomy and corruption, and sacked as deputy premier. The sex conviction was later overturned.

Last month, Anwar filed a police complaint over his treatment in custody a decade ago, which resulted in him sporting a black eye.

According to Musa's lawyer Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, the country's top policeman said Anwar had slandered him by repeating in public and to the media the allegations of manipulating evidence.

musa gani aca 110708 arrive 1 "What Musa is claiming here is that Anwar, in lodging that report and publicising it with his statements in press conferences, he has repeated those allegations without substantiating it with hard evidence," his lawyer told AFP .

"He has acted with malice and made the statement recklessly as to whether what he said is true or not," Kamarul said.

He also said that the writ of summons would be served on Anwar as soon as possible after he obtained the copy of the writ with the court's seal.

Anwar has said he is the victim of a "vendetta" after spending a night in police custody last week over new sodomy accusations levelled by a young male aide.

He said he was being targeted because of the allegations he made against Musa and Gani.

Anwar rejected the new allegations levelled by 23-year-old aide Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan as another conspiracy to stop him from toppling the government, which suffered huge losses in March elections.

Probed by the ACA

Meanwhile, Gani is also expected to file a similar suit against Anwar.

Last week Gani had demanded an apology from Anwar for making the police report alleging fabrication of evidence.

musa gani aca 110708 arrival Through a letter of demand, Gani also gave Anwar 48 hours to offer a formal apology and public retraction of the allegation. Gani also sought an unspecified amount in damages for the allegation.

On July 1, Anwar made the report claiming that Gani and Musa manufactured evidence in the "black eye" incident 10 years ago.

Gani was then a deputy public prosecutor while Musa was the investigating officer into the cases against Anwar.

Following Anwar's police report, the Anti-Corruption Agency has taken statements from both Musa and Gani on the matter.

They have also taken a statement from Anwar last Wednesday and he is back at the agency today to continue giving his statement.

When asked for comment on the suit against him, Anwar said that he was ready for it.

"I will be happy to face him (Musa) in court," said Anwar.