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KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today ordered Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim to enter his defence on the charge of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
“The prosecution has established the ingredients for a prima facie case,” Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah told a packed courtroom.
The court also ruled that Saiful was a credible witness since his testimony was corroborated by expert witnesses that there was penetration and that Saiful had been present at the condominium where the alleged act took place.
Anwar’s supporters, some coming from as far as Penang, had arrived at the Jalan Duta court complex here as early as 4.30 am.
The supporters performed prayers at the nearby mosque to seek divine intervention while the police beefed up security in the area.
Anwar, 64, was charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code with sodomising Saiful, 25, at the Desa Damansara condominium here on June 26, 2008.
If found guilty, the opposition leader could face a jail term of not less than five years and a maximum of 20 years.
Anwar had consistently denied the charge, saying that similar to the first sodomy accusation he faced in 1999, this too was a political conspiracy.
“The prosecution has established the ingredients for a prima facie case,” Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah told a packed courtroom.
The court also ruled that Saiful was a credible witness since his testimony was corroborated by expert witnesses that there was penetration and that Saiful had been present at the condominium where the alleged act took place.
Anwar’s supporters, some coming from as far as Penang, had arrived at the Jalan Duta court complex here as early as 4.30 am.
The supporters performed prayers at the nearby mosque to seek divine intervention while the police beefed up security in the area.
Anwar, 64, was charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code with sodomising Saiful, 25, at the Desa Damansara condominium here on June 26, 2008.
If found guilty, the opposition leader could face a jail term of not less than five years and a maximum of 20 years.
Anwar had consistently denied the charge, saying that similar to the first sodomy accusation he faced in 1999, this too was a political conspiracy.
