Prosecution citing ‘juicy’ bits for benefit of TV3, Utusan, says Anwar

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says the prosecution in his sodomy appeal is deliberately spicing up its submissions to the Federal Court for the benefit of the pro-government media. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 31, 2014.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today blamed the prosecution in his sodomy appeal for deliberately spicing up its submissions to the Federal Court for the benefit of the pro-government media.

Speaking at the end of today's hearing, Anwar said the lead prosecutor, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, was citing sensational excerpts from his submissions so that the newspapers supporting of the ruling government could play up these parts.

"The deputy public prosecutor quoted juicy parts of his submission for Utusan Malaysia and TV3," Anwar said after leaving the court which had adjourned for today, the fourth day of the hearing.

Shafee should be answering issues of fact raised by the defence team instead, Anwar said.

"The defence team has done an impressive job, especially creating doubt in the tampering of evidence," he said.

Shafee, who acts for Umno in other cases, was appointed by the government to lead the prosecuting team.

In his submissions today, he narrated how Anwar alleged sodomised his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

He also quoted a four-letter word allegedly said by Anwar to Saiful as part of a sexual innuendo.

Meanwhile, Shafee said he had completed 20% to 30% of his submission and he had laid down the facts of the case in its right context.

"This was done to show why the alleged sodomy took place," he said after the hearing ended today.

Shafee, who has been given a temporary licence by the Attorney-General to prosecute in this case, said he had also addressed the court today on the samples with which the defence claimed were tampered.

The Umno lawyer also said the conspiracy theory put forth by the defence did not make sense.

He said Umno, the media, government medical doctors, two chemists and the judiciary were dragged into this alleged conspiracy by Anwar when he gave a statement from the dock during trial.

Shafee had also told the court that Saiful was subjected to sexual harassment, which culminated in sodomy.

"If a woman can be protected, why not a man against (sic) a man?"

Shafee said on Monday he would move on to submit on the complainant's credibility and other matters raised by the defence.

The bench, chaired by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria, has also extended the hearing of the appeal until Tuesday.

An international observer at the appeal hearing, Danthong Breen of the International Federation of Human Rights, said the proceedings had been interesting so far.

"The judges are also attentive to points raised," said Breen, the organisation's senior adviser.

Breen had also followed proceedings during trial at the Court of Appeal which convicted Anwar of the charge.

"Here (in the Federal Court) the quality of submissions is in detail and I am learning a lot," he said, adding that the defence lawyers have put up a good show thus far in creating a doubt.

"Let us hear the prosecution's story and finally the court's verdict.”

- TMI