Anwar’s appeal for sodomy case to be heard by lower court due on Monday

(Suara Keadilan) – The Court of Appeal has fixed June 29 to hear Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal against a High Court decision to move his sodomy case up from a lower court.

In October 2008, the Sessions Court judge S Komathy had ruled that her court was qualified to hear the trial, overriding arguments from the public prosecutor that it was better for the High Court to hear the case.

But in March 2009, High Court judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah overturned Komathy’s decision.

Anwar then appealed. According to his lawyer, the Court of Appeal  only just informed him of the hearing date. If the Sessions Court decision is upheld, then the case would be transferred down again.

Otherwise, the trial will proceed at the High Court, which has already fixed July 8 to hear an application from Anwar to strike out the charges. If the application is rejected, then the trial proper will begin.

Anwar was charged for allegedly sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful on June 26, 2008. He has pleaded not guilty, accusing Prime Minister Najib Razak of political persecution.

Although a year has lapsed, the government has delayed furnishing key documents – making it difficult for Anwar’s lawyers to prepare his defence. They have since filed for a court order compelling the prosecution to furnish him with all relevant documents and this will be heard on July 1.

Like Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi, Anwar is a democracy icon and has been persecuted for challenging the Umno-BN regime now led by Najib. And like the Burmese junta, Najib has been increasingly resorting to police crackdowns and sham trials to cling to power.

The U.S. State Department has gone on record to say that they believe the latest sodomy charge against Anwar was fabricated to derail his political career.