Anwar wants Sodomy II struck out over Saiful’s alleged ‘affair’
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants the sodomy charge against him dropped following recent allegations that lead witness Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan was having an affair with Farah Azlina Latif, a deputy public prosecutor in the trial.
Anwar’s lead counsel, Karpal Singh, informed Judge Datuk Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah that an application had been filed this morning, claiming that the prosecution team led by Solicitor-General II Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden had been compromised as a result of the alleged affair.
“There have been offences committed under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).
“As a result of the affair, [the] integrity of prosecution has been compromised,” said Karpal.
The lawyer said that the entire prosecution team should also “step down” as what had happened was unprecedented and would affect the case.
“The charge against Anwar should be struck out.
“The DPP is part of prosecution, (by) having an affair, there is a likelihood that Saiful would have been aware of the entire investigation,” added Karpal, who is also DAP national chairman.
Anwar’s legal team had submitted a letter to the Attorney-General’s Chambers last week demanding an explanation to the affair claims.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had responded by dropping Farah from the prosecution team, but did not address or refute the claims which were first highlighted by fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin.
Raja Petra had claimed to have information that Saiful was romantically involved with Farah.
Mohd Zabidin has ordered the court to step down while he discussed the matter with lawyers from both teams in chambers.
