Malaysian court sets Anwar free

Malaysian court sets Anwar free

Former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was freed Thursday after nearly six years in jail asthe Malaysia Federal Court upheld his appeal against conviction for sodomy.

Federal Court judges Abdul Hamid Mohamad, Paduka Rahmah Hussainand Baharuddin Shah Tengku Mahmud decided with a 2-1 majority to overturn Anwar's conviction and nine-year jail sentence imposed byKuala Lumpur High Court on Aug. 2, 2000.

The court also overturned the conviction and six-year jail sentence on Anwar's adopted brother, Sukma Darmawan Sasmitaat Madja.

Anwar, 57, and his adopted brother were found guilty by Kuala Lumpur High Court of sodomizing Anwar's family driver, Azizan Abu Bakar, at Sukma's Tivoli Villa apartment in affluent Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur between January and March 1993.

Anwar was also sentenced on April 14, 1999, to six years' jail on four counts of corruption relating to abuse of power by interfering in police investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct.

In an 88-page judgment, Justice Abdul Hamid said the prosecution had failed to prove the case against Anwar and Sukma beyond reasonable doubt as required by the law on admissible evidence and in accordance with established principles of law.

The justice said the essential part of the offense had not beenproven by the prosecution as Azizan, being the only source for thedate of the offense, showed inconsistency and contradiction when giving evidence and was, therefore, not a reliable source.

Anwar went home as a free man. He arrived at his house in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, in the afternoon, escorted by two police outriders. Some 300 supporters were there to greet him.

The politician, who had difficulty in walking, was carried by two persons into his house.

Speaking to reporters when he arrived at his house, Anwar said,"this is a good start and it gives hope for a more credible justice system. I am also grateful to the two judges that had the strength and resolve to rule in my favor."

Anwar also singled out Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi forpraise, crediting him for allowing the judiciary to act in accordance with the law.

"I hope the prime minister will defend the freedom of the judiciary because there are my friends who have also been convicted on political motives and evil intentions," he added.

He disclosed that his immediate plan was to seek treatment in Munich, Germany, for urgent operation on his long standing spinal disc injury, which he said was aggravated by a police beating after his arrest in 1998.

To his friends and supporters, Anwar said, "Wait till I return from my treatment and we shall plan for the future."

"Once I return (from Germany), I will meet all opposition leaders, members of non-governmental organizations and reform supporters to plan the future," he said.

Anwar's release from prison comes exactly six years after he was sacked from the cabinet. He became deputy prime minister in 1993 and was sacked in September 1998.

Concerning the Federal Court's decision on the final appeal by the former deputy prime minister, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Wednesday that the government would not interfere with the court's decision.

Abdullah added that it was up to the judiciary to make a decision.

Source: Xinhua