Sodomy 2: Prosecution to appeal against court order

(The Star) KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution in Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial has filed a notice of appeal against the court ruling on Thursday ordering it to supply the defence with certain documents and exhibits.

The prosecution filed its notice against the decision by High Court Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah at the High Court criminal registry at 3:45pm on Friday.

Justice Mohamad Zabidin had given the prosecution one week to comply with his order.

Solicitor-General I Datuk Idrus Harun signed the consent to appeal.

In an immediate response, Anwar’s lawyer Sankara Nair said he would file a cross-appeal.

He said he had not been served a copy of the notice and would need some time to prepare papers for the matter.

On March 10, Anwar pleaded not guilty to sodomising his former personal aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 24, at Desa Damansara Condominium in Bukit Damansara between 3:01pm and 4:30pm on June 26 last year.

Saiful, of Damansara, had lodged a complaint on June 28 over the alleged incident.

On Thursday, Justice Mohamad Zabidin, amongst other things, ordered the prosecution to supply Anwar’s counsel with a copy of CCTV recordings taken from the guardhouse and lifts of the Desa Damansara Condominium for three days from June 25 last year.

He also ordered the prosecution to supply to Anwar’s legal team a copy of its witness list and all documents to be tendered in court as evidence.

The prosecution must also hand over a statement of facts which was favourable to Anwar, if available, he ordered.

However, Justice Mohamad Zabidin disallowed an application by the defence team to inspect the original samples taken from Saiful, saying the evidence had been sealed by the chemist and that any disturbance would affect its identity.

Justice Mohamad Zabidin also set July 24 for mention of the sodomy trial and an application by Anwar to strike out the charge.