KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysia's police chief sued opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for alleged defamation Monday, piling legal pressure on the politician as he combats a sodomy accusation that has threatened his resurgent career.
Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan demanded unspecified compensation from Anwar, who claimed earlier this month that Musa had fabricated evidence linked to Anwar's assault by the country's former police chief in 1998.
Musa, who was a lower-ranking police official in 1998, also sought an injunction to prevent Anwar from repeating the allegation.
Musa said in his lawsuit that Anwar's claim was "completely baseless and untrue," and that it had "caused damage to (Musa's) reputation, image and good name."
The Kuala Lumpur High Court did not immediately schedule a date to hear the suit.
Anwar vowed to fight Musa's lawsuit, saying he "will be happy to take this up in court."
The government's anti-corruption agency has launched an investigation into Anwar's allegation that Musa and Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail fabricated evidence against Anwar.
Anwar went to the agency's headquarters Monday to be questioned about his claim, which is related to a case in which Anwar was beaten up in custody by ex-police chief Abdul Rahim Noor after he was arrested on corruption and sodomy charges in 1998.
Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, was convicted of both charges