Prosecutor: Anwar willingly left evidence
By Tashny Sukumaran, Free Malaysia Today
KUALA LUMPUR: In arguments lasting more than two hours, Solicitor-General Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden submitted today that the arrest of Anwar Ibrahim on July 16, 2008 was lawful and that the obtaining of evidence from his cell was proper.
“Anwar was not tricked into using the toothbrush, towel or bottle,” he said. “He was not induced or threatened. There was no oppression.”
Citing British and American precedents, he said the opposition leader could not expect privacy during detention.
He said that a detained person who left things behind was willingly submitting evidence.
He also argued that the arrest was legal because Anwar had signed the warrant.
Disapproving murmurs from the gallery were audible as Yusuf was making his submission. Several members of parliament, still in their parliamentary garb, were in court to show support for Anwar.
Batu MP Tian Chua even sent out tweets during the trial within a trial, criticising Yusof’s “twisted arguments”.
Also present were Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah, Machang MP Saifuddin Nasution, Gopeng MP Lee Boon Chye and Selayang MP William Leong.
Anwar’s lawyer Karpal Singh restated his stance from previous days, saying the arrest violated the Federal Constitution and was therefore unlawful.
He maintained his argument that the evidence taken from Anwar’s cell on the night of his detention was obtained improperly.
