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Friday, July 11, 2014

Anwar's lawyers complain appeals being rushed


Lawyers representing Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim have complained that the Federal Court is rushing to hear the appeals relating to the Sodomy II trial.

Contacted by Malaysiakini, one of his lawyers, N Surendran, said deputy registrar Hasbi Hassan had sought to fix hearings for the three appeals together.

"The three appeals include Anwar wanting to remove senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah from leading the prosecution team, Anwar's appeal against his conviction and the prosecution's appeal to enhance the (five years' jail) sentence," Surendran said.

"The deputy registrar told us that she had been instructed by the presiding judges to fix a date in September. I find this as improper as all appeals should not be heard at the same time.

"It seems they want to bulldoze it through," said Surendran.

By right, Surendran, who is also Padang Serai MP, said the appeal against Shafee should be heard first.

"However, they want to hear all three appeals at a go," he decried.

Surendran said Anwar's lead counsel, Sulaiman Abdullah, has not been well and it remained uncertain whether he would be available in September.

Sulaiman has been appointed in place of the late Karpal Singh, who died in a road accident last April.

Further case management on Aug 8

Following their complaint, Surendran said, the court has fixed Aug 8 for further case management.

Surendran, along with Ram Karpal and Latheefa Koya, appeared for Anwar while DPP Mohd Hanafiah Zakaria appeared for the prosecution.

Anwar was in January 2012 acquitted by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan (left), at a Desa Damansara condominium unit between 3pm and 4pm on June 26, 2008.

However, on appeal by the prosecution led by Shafee, the Court of Appeal unanimously overturned the decisionand sentenced Anwar to five years' jail.

Surendran also complained of "high-handed action" by the government in moving to rush through with the three appeals.

“It is now clear that the government has started, again, with the process of wanting to jail Anwar.

“We are demanding that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak drops the charge against Anwar immediately.

“The government's attempt to jail the federal opposition leader is a global embarrassment,” Surendran added.

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