Sessions Court judge Lailatul Zuraida Harun has recused herself from hearing Gombak assemblyperson Muhammad Hilman Idham’s defamation suit against a lawyer over rape allegations involving two Bersatu members.

The lower court judge in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon allowed an application by defendant Asheeq Ali Sethi Ali for her to withdraw from the civil action, over claims raised by his client who is an alleged rape victim...