Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim acquitted of sodomy

2012-01-09 21:02:43 GMT+7 (ICT)

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (BNO NEWS) -- A Malaysian court on Monday acquitted opposition leader and former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim of sodomy after a trial of nearly two years, prosecutors said.

Ibrahim, who has been the leader of the Malaysian opposition since August 2008, had been accused of sodomy by one of his male aides, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan. He filed a police complaint in June 2008 which accused Anwar of sodomy, which is illegal in Malaysia even if it is consensual.

"After going through the evidence, the court could not be 100 percent certain that the integrity of the DNA samples collected from Mohd Saiful are not compromised," judge Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah said in his ruling on Monday. "Therefore the accused is acquitted and discharged."

Ibrahim kept to his claims of innocence throughout the two-year trial, with his supporters calling the charges against him a government conspiracy to get him out of politics. The case also drew criticism and expressions of concern from other governments and human rights groups.

Hours before the ruling, thousands of people gathered outside the courthouse in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur to show their support for Anwar. Five people were later injured when three home-made bombs exploded near the court.

Following the acquittal, Anwar professed his happiness with the judicial system in the country. "Malaysia has an independent judiciary," he said, as quoted by the BBC. "Thank God justice has prevailed. I have been vindicated. To be honest, I am a little surprised."

It was not the first time the key opposition figure has been charged, resulting in considerable political controversy in Malaysia. In 1999, Anwar was sentenced to six years in prison for corruption and in 2000 to another nine years in prison for sodomy. The second conviction was later reversed by the Federal Court.

Following Monday's court ruling, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said the verdict shows that politicians cannot interfere with the country's judiciary. "Today's verdict shows once again that, despite what many have claimed, the Malaysian judiciary is an independent institution where neither politics nor politicians have any influence over the dispensation of justice," he said.

He added: "This case was brought by a private individual and it was important that he had his accusations heard in court. Far from being a politically motivated prosecution, it has been an unwelcome distraction from the serious business of running our country in the interests of the Malaysian people."

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-01-09

This 13 year witch hunt was started by former Malaysian PM Mahathir. It's a reflection of Mahathir's dirty power play manipulations. Good on you, Anwar, for your courage and forthrightness - in facing false charges for so many years. Any lesser man would have run from it.