Lead counsel for Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim Karpal Singh has called on trial judge to act against sodomy complainant Saiful Bukhari Azlan for breaching rules after he gave an interview to TV3, wherein he spoke about the sodomy case and how it had affected him..
"I think the judge should do something. Judges have a duty, you know, on the spot, to issue a show cause letter. I think that is what the judge should do," said Karpal to reporters at the court complex in Jalan Duta.
TV3's prime news programme Buletin Utama had aired an exclusive interview with Saiful on Tuesday and Wednesday over his predicament as a result of the case.
Karpal declined to give details, but said he would study the TV3 interview before announcing a course of action. He had earlier in the day interviewed another witness, Pusrawi staff nurse Yazihan Jusoh, with senior lawyer Param Cumaraswamy and Sankara Nair. Anwar was also present during the interview.
Karpal declined to give details, but said he would study the TV3 interview before announcing a course of action. He had earlier in the day interviewed another witness, Pusrawi staff nurse Yazihan Jusoh, with senior lawyer Param Cumaraswamy and Sankara Nair. Anwar was also present during the interview.
Three options
The sodomy trial proper will begin on Monday, with Anwar the first witness to be called. He has pleaded not guilty and accused Prime Minister Najib Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor of hatching the plot with Saiful to derail his political comeback.
Anwar has three options - to testify under oath in the witness stand, testify from the dock where he cannot be cross-examined or choose to remain silent. His lawyers said they would only decide which option on Monday.
Indeed, the first couple had met Saiful just before he lodged the police report that resulted in the trial. Both Najib and Rosmah have refused to take the witness stand unless summoned by the court. They also declined to be interviewed.
Asked if the defence team would broach Saiful's TV3 interview in court on Monday, Karpal said that he would first review the interview.
Meanwhile, Sankara said an Indonesian maid and a former PKR staff have still not been interviewed, but the trial would proceed as scheduled on Monday.
"We will decide tomorrow on the witnesses we want to call (from) among those (we have) interviewed," said Sankara.
Anwar is charged with sodomising Saiful at a plush condominium on June 26, 2008. If found guilty, he stands to be imprisoned for up to 20 years.
Asked if the defence team would broach Saiful's TV3 interview in court on Monday, Karpal said that he would first review the interview.
Meanwhile, Sankara said an Indonesian maid and a former PKR staff have still not been interviewed, but the trial would proceed as scheduled on Monday.
"We will decide tomorrow on the witnesses we want to call (from) among those (we have) interviewed," said Sankara.
Anwar is charged with sodomising Saiful at a plush condominium on June 26, 2008. If found guilty, he stands to be imprisoned for up to 20 years.
