Anwar fails to recall Sodomy II witness

(MM) – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim failed today in his final bid to recall retired top cop Jude Blacious Pereira, a key witness from his second sodomy trial, to the stand.

In a unanimous decision this morning, a five-member Federal Court bench allowed the prosecution’s application to strike out Anwar’s second attempt to recall Pereira, which was previously rejected by an appellate court.

With the decision, the prosecution’s appeal against Anwar’s Sodomy II acquittal will proceed for hearing at the Court of Appeal this Thursday.

On February 12, the Court of Appeal had dismissed Anwar’s attempt to put Pereira back on the stand, after finding that the opposition leader had failed to fulfil the conditions necessary to recall a witness whose testimony had been accepted by a lower court.

Anwar had previously filed an application to challenge Pereira’s credibility as a key witness in the Sodomy II trial in 2010.

In his application, Anwar cited a High Court decision in January to reject Pereira’s application to be admitted to the Malaysian Bar.

The court had rejected Pereira’s bid due to the 2010 findings in a Suhakam report of the latter’s alleged involvement in the arrest of five lawyers attached to the Legal Aid Centre in 2009.