PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, already facing a political crisis as his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners continue a very public argument, failed in his bid today to shift his Sodomy II trial back to the sessions court.
He will face what he has claimed is a politically-motivated sodomy charge, his second in 10 years, in the High Court instead. Barring any further challenges, the trial is set to start next week.
The Court of Appeal ruled today that the controversial certificate of transfer signed by the Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail was valid.
Anwar had challenged the certificate, a routine procedure to transfer the case to the High Court, in what was an obvious attempt to highlight his accusations against Gani and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan for allegedly fabricating evidence against him in his black-eye beating case.
“I am very disgusted with the decision. Listening to the grounds, I am perturbed that the assurance given by the former prime minister Tun Abdullah Badawi that the AG would not be involved does not mean anything,” Anwar told reporters here.
The court of appeal ruled that the attorney-general had only done his duty according to the federal constitution and other laws, and not because of bias.
Justice Datuk Abdull Hamid Embung noted there was absolutely no proof that Anwar would not get a fair trial if the case was heard in the High Court.
Asked afterwards if he thought he would get a fair trial, Anwar said: “It remains to be seen. “I will be very naïve if not stupid to accept that there would be no harassment.”
MI
02/07/09
He will face what he has claimed is a politically-motivated sodomy charge, his second in 10 years, in the High Court instead. Barring any further challenges, the trial is set to start next week.
The Court of Appeal ruled today that the controversial certificate of transfer signed by the Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail was valid.
Anwar had challenged the certificate, a routine procedure to transfer the case to the High Court, in what was an obvious attempt to highlight his accusations against Gani and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan for allegedly fabricating evidence against him in his black-eye beating case.
“I am very disgusted with the decision. Listening to the grounds, I am perturbed that the assurance given by the former prime minister Tun Abdullah Badawi that the AG would not be involved does not mean anything,” Anwar told reporters here.
The court of appeal ruled that the attorney-general had only done his duty according to the federal constitution and other laws, and not because of bias.
Justice Datuk Abdull Hamid Embung noted there was absolutely no proof that Anwar would not get a fair trial if the case was heard in the High Court.
Asked afterwards if he thought he would get a fair trial, Anwar said: “It remains to be seen. “I will be very naïve if not stupid to accept that there would be no harassment.”
MI
02/07/09
No comments:
Post a Comment