Court's attention drawn to discrepancies...

While the focus in the trial-within-a-trial is whether Anwar Ibrahim's arrest was legal or unlawful, counsel for the Permatang Pauh MP has drawn the court's attention to the discrepancies between the original statement recorded from the opposition leader, and that given to his solicitors.

The matter was highlighted when Anwar was recalled to the witness stand by the prosecution led by solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden (right) to answer questions on his arrest. Anwar's statement was recorded under Section 112 of Criminal Procedure Code before investigating officer DSP Jude Blacious Pereira, Anwar and was accompanied by lawyer Sivarasa Rasiah.

Both copies, the original and the copy handed to Anwar's solicitors, were tendered as evidence.

The discrepancies as identified by Anwar included:

The word sulit (confidential) which is printed on the original copy on every page does not appear in the copy given to the solicitor.

The name and signature of the recording officer Pereira appeared in the original copy but not on the one given to the solicitor, and

There appeared as if an insertion had been made on the second page in the original, compared to the copy given to the lawyer.

The opposition leader said that in recording his statement, he had denied the charge, and gave full cooperation.

“I asked Jude (Pereira) if everything was finished. He said it was finished. I sought for this as I wanted to be released!” Anwar said.

Despite this, he said he was not released and instead was held overnight by the police after earlier going to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for a medical examination.

He also said no grounds were given by Pereira for the arrest and only the charge was read out to him.

“There must be reason to arrest a person. The police must state the basis for the arrest,” he said.

Anwar signed document

Earlier, Anwar was asked by Yusof to read through the document and confirm its authenticity.

The solicitor-general II referred to two pages of the statement which state that Anwar disallowed the police to videotape the recording of his statement and over the allegation of sodomy by complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Anwar agreed with Yusof that he signed something but that was in IPK KL.

“Prior to that while in the police vehicle, the police did not state the grounds for my arrest.”

“It was only at the IPK that they read out the charge,” said the Permatang Pauh MP.- Hafiz Yatim

source:malaysiakini

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