‘I never had sex with Saiful’

Teoh El Sen | August 22, 2011

Anwar starts his defence by giving a statement from the dock, which means he will not be cross-examined by the prosecution.

KUALA LUMPUR: Anwar Ibrahim today started his defence in the Sodomy II trial by denying that he had ever had sex with complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

“First and foremost, I categorically deny the charges against me. I never had any sexual relations with Saiful,” said Anwar who read from a statetement from the accused dock.

He had earlier opted to give his evidence from the dock, instead of from the witness stand. This means he could not be cross-examined by the prosecution.

Anwar said the charges were a “despicable attempt at character assassination”, but vowed that he would not be “cowed into submission”.

High Court judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah earlier allowed Anwar to take the stand from the accused dock. Anwar had three choices: to testify in the witness box, to speak in the accused dock or to keep silent.

On May 16, Zabidin ordered Anwar to enter his defence after ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the latter.

He ruled that Saiful was a “credible” and “truthful” witness whose testimony was corroborated by the evidence of expert witnesses, including doctors and chemists.

In 2008, Anwar was charged with having sodomised Saiful, his former aide, then 22, the same year. The incident allegedly occurred at a Desa Damansara condominium unit in Bukit Damansara between 3.10pm and 4.30pm on June 26.

If convicted under section 377B of the Penal Code, Anwar could face up to a maximum of 20 years in prison and whipping.

This is the second time the PKR de facto leader has been charged with sodomy, the first being in 1998 alongside charges of corruption. The Permatang Pauh MP has consistently denied the charges, saying they were a political conspiracy hatched to destroy his politcal career.