Malaysian opposition leader Anwar faces sodomy trial, again
By IANSWednesday, February 3, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim Wednesday pleaded not guilty to the sodomy charge levelled against him by one of his former colleagues.
Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, Anwar’s former aide, testified at the beginning of the trial Wednesday that the accused had asked him to have sex against the order of the nature.
Anwar is facing the trial on sodomy charge for the second time after serving six years in jail following his conviction, which was subsequently overturned on appeal.
The complainant, Mohd Saiful, said the incident occurred June 26, 2008, when he and Anwar finished discussing their work schedule at a unit of the Desa Damansara Condominium.
Anwar pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read out to him before High Court Judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah, Bernama news agency reported.
According to Malaysian law, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor and Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh can be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in jail and whipping upon conviction. The trial takes place 18 months after Anwar was charged in court in August 2008.
“(I was) angry and afraid. I said I did not want to do it,” Mohd Saiful was quoted as saying in response to the queries by prosecutor during the trial.
According to prosecution, Anwar’s DNA was found during the medical examination on Saiful, while the opposition leader has been consistently denying the charge terming it as a political conspiracy to defame his image.
