Anwar to seek ‘fresh’ hearing of sodomy case tomorrow

(Malay Mail Online) – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will attempt tomorrow to put his five-year conviction for sodomy under review by seeking a fresh bench at the Federal Court to look at his case.

A media notice sent by PKR today confirmed that the application will be made at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya at noon tomorrow.

“Please be informed that Anwar will file an application for a fresh Federal Court hearing (fresh Federal Court bench) to review and set aside his conviction and imprisonment,” the notice said.

Anwar was formally disqualified as Permatang Pauh MP earlier this month after his application for royal pardon was rejected.

His wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is currently campaigning for PKR to retain the federal seat back for the party.

Anwar was sentenced to five years in jail on February 10 after the Federal Court upheld the Court of Appeal’s 2014 ruling that had reversed his previous acquittal of sodomising former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Weeks after, on February 24, Anwar’s family sent a request for a royal pardon to delay his disqualification from his Permatang Pauh seat.

They also applied to the Prisons Commissioner to allow Anwar to attend the ongoing Parliament sitting, which was subsequently rejected.