Anwar rags Shafee for ‘political gimmick’
He praises his lawyers for their ‘scientific’ arguments and the judges for their patience
James Sivalingam, Free Malaysia Today
Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed today that his defence team had put forth arguments based on scientific evidence in seeking his acquittal of the charge of sodomising his former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
At the same time, he took an indirect shot at prosecutor Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, suggesting that he was motivated by a career ambition.
“This is science, not the political gimmick of any ambitious lawyer or counsel wanting to lobby to become an Attorney-General or a minister or whatever,” Anwar told reporters outside the Federal Court after it adjourned for the day.
Shafee is a lawyer for Umno.
Anwar also addressed the criticism he had been getting over his choice of a former Federal Court judge, Gopal Sri Ram, to lead his defence team. He said this was due to the loss of the late Karpal Singh and the ill health of Sulaiman Abdullah.
“I had to choose whom I consider the best, who can articulate my defence based on the facts and knowledge of the law at his disposal,” he said.
“They should allow me, who’s been harassed and intimidated all these years, to at least choose a counsel whom I have absolute confidence in.”
