- Joined
- Jan 3, 2009
- Messages
- 2,605
- Points
- 0
Malaysia's Anwar: Sodomy trial tainted with lies
AP
By SEAN YOONG,Associated Press Writer - Tuesday, May 11
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Defense lawyers in the sodomy trial of Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim sought to have the case thown out Tuesday, saying his accuser's story is tainted with contradictory statements.
Anwar's lawyer Karpal Singh argued that the specific charge against the opposition leader contradicts the alleged victim's own testimony in court.
Anwar is charged under a subsection of Malaysian law that outlaws consensual anal sex. However, his accuser, 24-year-old former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan, testified in court that Anwar sodomized him without his consent on June 26, 2008.
Singh said Tuesday that the discrepacy indicates that Saiful has been inconsistent in his statements and has made up his story.
Sodomy, whether consensual or not, is a crime in this Muslim-majority nation and punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Anwar and his supporters claim that the sodomy charge is part of a political conspiracy by Prime Minister Najib Razak to neutralize the opposition alliance, which made considerable gains in the March 2008 general elections. Saiful made the accusation less than four months later. If convicted, Anwar's political career would almost certainly come to an end, destroying his aspirations to become the prime minister.
Saiful's story is "not consistent, he's not telling the truth," Anwar, 62-year-old married father of six, told reporters Tuesday.
Defense lawyers demanded Tuesday that police hand over a transcript of the statement Saiful recorded after he was allegedly sodomized. At the time he was Anwar's political aide. Singh said that the transcript might show that Saiful originally said that he had consensual sex with Anwar.
Singh said he suspects Saiful originally claimed consensual sex because Anwar was charged _ ostensibly based on Saiful's statement _ under the section of Malaysian law that makes consensual sodomy a crime, even though another section of the law provides for a charge of non-consensual sodomy, Singh said.
However, Saiful has maintained in court that he was an unwilling partner in the alleged crime in a condominium where he went to meet Anwar. Saiful has given graphic description of the alleged act including the use of lubricant and vulgar language.
The prosecution has refused to submit the transcript of Saiful's recorded statement, saying it is not obliged to do so. The judge will rule on Wednesday if it should be submitted in court.
Singh said that if the transcript shows Saiful lied, his entire testimony would have to be deemed prejudiced and the case thrown out.
It is the second time that Anwar has been accused of sodomy. In 1998, he lost his post as deputy prime minister and spent six years in jail on convictions for sodomy and abuse of power. He was freed in 2004 when a court overturned the sodomy conviction.
Prime Minister Najib denies there is a conspiracy against Anwar to undermine his opposition alliance, which hopes to win power in national elections scheduled to be held by 2013.
AP
By SEAN YOONG,Associated Press Writer - Tuesday, May 11
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Defense lawyers in the sodomy trial of Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim sought to have the case thown out Tuesday, saying his accuser's story is tainted with contradictory statements.
Anwar's lawyer Karpal Singh argued that the specific charge against the opposition leader contradicts the alleged victim's own testimony in court.
Anwar is charged under a subsection of Malaysian law that outlaws consensual anal sex. However, his accuser, 24-year-old former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan, testified in court that Anwar sodomized him without his consent on June 26, 2008.
Singh said Tuesday that the discrepacy indicates that Saiful has been inconsistent in his statements and has made up his story.
Sodomy, whether consensual or not, is a crime in this Muslim-majority nation and punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Anwar and his supporters claim that the sodomy charge is part of a political conspiracy by Prime Minister Najib Razak to neutralize the opposition alliance, which made considerable gains in the March 2008 general elections. Saiful made the accusation less than four months later. If convicted, Anwar's political career would almost certainly come to an end, destroying his aspirations to become the prime minister.
Saiful's story is "not consistent, he's not telling the truth," Anwar, 62-year-old married father of six, told reporters Tuesday.
Defense lawyers demanded Tuesday that police hand over a transcript of the statement Saiful recorded after he was allegedly sodomized. At the time he was Anwar's political aide. Singh said that the transcript might show that Saiful originally said that he had consensual sex with Anwar.
Singh said he suspects Saiful originally claimed consensual sex because Anwar was charged _ ostensibly based on Saiful's statement _ under the section of Malaysian law that makes consensual sodomy a crime, even though another section of the law provides for a charge of non-consensual sodomy, Singh said.
However, Saiful has maintained in court that he was an unwilling partner in the alleged crime in a condominium where he went to meet Anwar. Saiful has given graphic description of the alleged act including the use of lubricant and vulgar language.
The prosecution has refused to submit the transcript of Saiful's recorded statement, saying it is not obliged to do so. The judge will rule on Wednesday if it should be submitted in court.
Singh said that if the transcript shows Saiful lied, his entire testimony would have to be deemed prejudiced and the case thrown out.
It is the second time that Anwar has been accused of sodomy. In 1998, he lost his post as deputy prime minister and spent six years in jail on convictions for sodomy and abuse of power. He was freed in 2004 when a court overturned the sodomy conviction.
Prime Minister Najib denies there is a conspiracy against Anwar to undermine his opposition alliance, which hopes to win power in national elections scheduled to be held by 2013.
