Evidence to incriminate Malaysia’s Anwar expunged

(Associated Press) – Malaysia’s High Court has refused to let prosecutors use key evidence that might link opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to semen found on the man who accused Anwar of sodomizing him.

The ruling could severely hamper the prosecution’s efforts to prove that Anwar had sex with his former aide. Anwar faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Government lawyers had sought to submit a toothbrush, towel and water bottle that Anwar used during police detention as evidence in the trial. A chemist testified that DNA found on those items matched that of a semen sample found on Anwar’s accuser.

The High Court ruled Tuesday that the items could not be used because they had not been properly obtained.