Wednesday, February 10, 2010

August 26, 2008 01:23 AM

Sodomy Accusation Exacts A Heavy Toll On Anwar

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who has been accused of sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, appears to be under immense pressure and has tried all kinds of tactics to defend himself on the issue.

Sunday, he used Federal Territory Mosque imam Ramlang Porigi in his campaign for the Permatang Pauh by-election in trying to cast aspersions on the oath taken by Saiful at the same mosque on Aug 15 declaring he was telling the truth (about Anwar sodomising him).

Federal Territory Mufti Datuk Wan Zahidi Wan Teh Monday said the imam, who was a witness at the swearing, had no locus standi to comment about it as he was merely a low-ranked mosque official.

Prior to this, copies of a medical report from the Pusrawi Hospital in Kuala Lumpur pertaining to a sodomy examination done on Saiful, 23, which alleged no sodomy had taken place, was widely circulated during the campaigning.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican Monday said the people should not make their own conclusions based on the findings of the report as it was inconclusive and not done by a medical expert.

On Saturday, the hospital's general manager Wan Mahmood Wan Yaakob said it was not responsible for the report circulating in Permatang Pauh.

In fact, Anwar, immediately after Saiful lodged a police report on the sodomy incident on June 28, fled to the Turkish ambassador's residence in Kuala Lumpur claiming his life was under threat.

June 29: Anwar's wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail says Anwar sought refuge there because of threats to his life.

June 30: After 26 hours at the ambassador's residence, Anwar returns home accompanied by his family at 6.45pm.

July 9: Anwar complaints to the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jawi) that he had been slandered by his former aide.

July 14: Anwar fails to appear at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters as he had promised to give a statement on the sodomy allegation against him.

July 16: Anwar is arrested under Section 377A of the Penal Code for investigations into the sodomy allegation and remanded for a day. He is also brought to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for medical examination.

July 17: Anwar is freed on police bail after police record his statement.

July 31: Wan Azizah resigns as MP of Permatang Pauh to pave the way for Anwar to contest the seat.

Aug 7 : Anwar pleads not guilty in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to sodomising Saiful and is freed on personal bail of RM20,000 without surety.

Anwar is alleged to have sodomised his former aide between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26 at Unit 11-5-1, Desa Damansara Condominium, Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.

If convicted, he can be jailed up to 20 years.

Aug 16: Anwar offers himself to contest the Permatang Pauh by-election on Aug 26. He is challenged by Barisan Nasional's Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah and Hanafi Mamat of Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA



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