In a surprising twist, Anwar Ibrahim was today acquitted by the Kuala Lumpur High Court of sodomising his former 23-year-old aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
In discharging the 64-year-old PKR de-facto leader, Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah cast doubt on the DNA evidence provided by the prosecution.
"After going through the evidence, I cannot be 100 percent certain that the evidence could have been compromised.
"Hence, the court is reluctant to convict on such corrobaration of evidence from SP1 Saiful."
On hearing the surprise verdict, the courtroom exploded in jubilation.
Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail cried and hugged her elated husband.
In an immediate reaction, Anwar thanked his lawyers.
"I'm finally vindicated after the smearing of my character. I'm thankful to Wan Azizah and the team of lawyers led by Karpal Singh.
He also thanked the support of Pakatan Rakyat leaders.
"We want to continue on the reform agenda, fighting corruption, and freedom of the press."
Meanwhile, sodomy complainant Saiful tweeted: "If not in this world, in the afterworld. I accept fate, will remain calm and continue praying."
Anwar was represented by a team of lawyers led by Bukit Gelugor MP and DAP chairperson Karpal. Outgoing solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden led the prosecution.
Anwar, a former deputy prime minister was charged with sodomising Saiful at the Desa Damansara condominium between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.
source:malaysiakini
Meanwhile, Al-Jazeera reports, Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been acquitted in a surprise end to a politically-charged sodomy trial. The popular leader has called the trial a government bid to cripple his opposition ahead of upcoming polls.
The ruling by Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah set off celebrations in the Kuala Lumpur High Court, with Anwar mobbed by his wife, daughters and opposition politicians in joyous scenes.
"Thank God, justice has been served," Anwar told reporters after the judge pronounced him not guilty.
"I feel vindicated, but we still have an agenda and a struggle. We now have to focus on the general elections," he said.
In a posting on his Twitter feed shortly after the ruling, Anwar said: "In the coming election, (the) voice of the people will be heard and this corrupt government will be toppled from its pedestals of power."
Thousands of Anwar supporters, who gathered outside under heavy security, erupted into cheers and raised their fists of support in the air as news of the verdict filtered out.
In his brief verdict announcement, Zabidin said he could not rely on controversial DNA evidence submitted by the prosecution.
"The court is always reluctant to convict on sexual offences without corroborative evidence. Therefore, the accused is acquitted and discharged," he said.It was the second sodomy verdict in a dozen years for Anwar, a former deputy premier in the 1990s, who was next in line to head the country's long-ruling government until a spectacular downfall.
The charismatic Anwar had been groomed to succeed former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad until a bitter row between them saw Anwar ousted in 1998, beaten and jailed on sodomy and graft charges widely seen as politically motivated.
Once the sodomy charge was overturned in 2004 and he was released, the affair threw Anwar into the opposition, which he led to unprecedented gains against his former ruling party in 2008 general elections.
But the new sodomy charges emerged shortly after those polls, accusing Anwar of sodomising a former male aide, the charges sparked accusations they were concocted by the ruling United Malays National Organisation to stall the opposition revival.
Sodomy is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia and punishable by 20 years in jail.
source:al-jazeera news.com
cheers.
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