No appeal against Anwar’s not guilty verdict?
A notice of appeal must be filed within 14 days of the date of judgment. So far, there is no indication that the prosecution is planning to do so.
(Free Malaysia Today) – The final day for the prosecution to file an appeal against the High Court’s decision to acquit Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim of a sodomy charge is on Jan 25.
As it stands, there is no indication that an appeal will be filed.
Trial judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah is still on leave and will only be back after the Chinese New Year break.
Sources close to the prosecution told FMT that Solicitor-General II Mohamed Yusof Zainal Abiden will be officially retiring on Feb 2 and he is also on leave.
The sources also revealed that Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail did not mention the matter during the Chamber’s weekly meeting on Tuesday.
It is learnt that Yusof, in his report to Gani, recommended that the prosecution file a notice of appeal in order to obtain the grounds of judgment.
“It’s a standard practice at the end of any criminal trial or in the absence of a written judgment, either the prosecution or defence which is intending to appeal must file the notice of appeal.
“The trial judge is then required to provide a written judgment to facilitate the pursuance of the matter. If the prosecution (in Anwar’s case) fails to file the notice within the stipulated 14-day period, then the matter ends and the trial judge can produce his written judgment beyond that period,” explained a senior lawyer, who declined to be named.
