DPP dropped over alleged ‘affair’ with Saiful
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider
PUTRAJAYA, July 27 – Deputy Public Prosecutor Farah Azlina Latif was dropped today from the team prosecuting Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for sodomy after allegations surfaced last week that she was romantically involved with complainant and chief witness Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail told reporters today that the junior prosecutor was removed to prevent negative public perception of the Sodomy II prosecution team.
The Malaysian Insider reported the allegations last week after fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin alleged that Farah was having an “affair” with Saiful.
Yesterday, Anwar’s lawyers demanded that the Attorney-General respond to Raja Petra’s claims.
Lead counsel for Anwar’s defence team Sankara Nair had said that if the matter was left unaddressed, it could affect the on-going trial proceedings which is set to continue on August 2.
Anwar is being prosecuted by an eight men prosecution team comprising Mohd Yusof, Datuk Nordin Hassan, Mohamed Hanafiah Zakaria, Wong, Noorin, Mira Mirna Musa, Naidatul Athirah Azmad and Farah Azlina Latif.
Saiful and Farah have not made any comments on the allegations.
Anwar, the 62-year-old PKR de facto leader, is charged with sodomising Saiful at Unit 11-5-1 of the Desa Damansara Condominium in Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara here between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.
The former deputy prime minister has denied the charge, describing it as “evil, frivolous lies by those in power” when the charge was read out to him. He is charged under section 377B of the Penal Code and can be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years’ jail and whipping upon conviction. The trial is taking place 18 months after Anwar was charged in court in August 2008.
