After 3 years, cops quiz Anwar over alleged seditious remarks

Police recorded Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's (pic) statement today as they investigated claims that he had allegedly uttered seditious remarks over his second sodomy case at a ceramah three years ago.

The Star quoted Anwar's lawyer, Latheefa Koya, as saying that her client was quizzed by policemen from the Ampang police headquarters.

"Anwar was asked whether he had discussed his sodomy case during a ceramah in Taman Melawati, Gombak in March 2011," Latheefa said.

Three days after the ceramah, a police report was lodged against Anwar, she added.

Anwar said police had re-opened his case following instructions issued by the Attorney-General's Chambers.

He said in 2011, police had interviewed Mohamed Azmin Ali, Saari Sungib, and Amiruddin Shaari over the case.

"However, they have only decided to re-open the case now after orders were issued by Putrajaya," Latheefa said.

She questioned the authorities’ inaction for three years to determine whether Anwar's case had elements of sedition.

"What is the hidden agenda or interest behind the order to re-open the case?

"It appears as if Anwar, the de facto PKR leader, is the latest opposition figure to fall afoul of the Sedition Act 1948," she told a press conference at the PKR headquarters today.

During the press conference, Anwar said the sedition investigation against him was a move by Putrajaya to put him under political pressure.

"I am appalled at the Attorney-General's decision to instruct the police to, supposedly, complete their investigations under the Sedition Act over a speech I made in 2011.

"If it was really seditious they would have deemed it necessary to take immediate measures. Clearly this was not the case. This is not just malicious prosecution but it is persecution!" Anwar said.

He said this was a means to harass him, just weeks before his appeal over the sodomy case was being brought to the Federal Court.

Earlier this week, Amnesty International issued a statement describing the sedition probe against Anwar as being blatantly politically motivated.

The human rights group urged Putrajaya to drop the case immediately, saying it was clearly a persecution.

- TMI