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PAS : KE ARAH PEMERINTAHAN ISLAM YANG ADIL
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Anwar sends Mahathir message on eve of expected court
appearance
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 16 (AFP) - Malaysia's jailed
ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, set for his first
encounter with the prime minister since his downfall
17 months ago, Wednesday urged Mahathir Mohamad not to
treat an expected court appearance like a party
meeting.
"Tell him this is not the UMNO (ruling party) general
assembly," Anwar said to reporters during a break in
his sodomy trial -- in reference to the premier's
expected appearance in court Thursday to give
evidence.
Judge Arifin Jaka privately met prosecution and
defence lawyers Wednesday morning. Defence lawyers
told reporters Mahathir was still expected to appear
Thursday in answer to their subpoena.
"He's still on for tomorrow," said Anwar's lead
counsel Christopher Fernando.
Asked by reporters what he expected if Mahathir
appears in court, Anwar replied: "Nothing unusual but
I think they (prosecutors) are trying to resist it.
"He's (Mahathir) already saying he will not say
anything about the political conspiracy. Tell him this
is not the UMNO general assembly."
Defence lawyers issued the subpoena last October but
the trial was adjourned during the November election
period since the judge was said to be unwell.
Mahathir said in October he would appear in court if
required but would only answer questions about the
sodomy charge and not about an alleged political
conspiracy, since this was unrelated to the trial.
Anwar was jailed for six years last April for abusing
his official powers to cover up allegations of sexual
misconduct. If convicted of sodomy, he could face
another 20 years.
He says the charges against him were fabricated as
part of a high-level political conspiracy after he
threatened to expose official corruption. The
government denies any plot.
The defence meanwhile said it had confirmed part of
Anwar's alibi against the sodomy charge after a civil
servant testified about a 1993 trip to Europe with the
deputy premier, who was also finance minister.
Anwar and his adopted brother Sukma Darmawan are
accused of sodomising Anwar's official driver Azizan
Abu Bakar at Sukma's Kuala Lumpur apartment one
evening
between January and March 1993.
Anwar has produced a record of his official
engagements to try to show he could not have committed
the offence.
Mohamad Zaid Ismail, deputy Inland Revenue director,
testified he was part of a delegation led by Anwar to
London, Paris and Frankfurt in February 1993.
Mohamad Zaid initially could not confirm that Anwar
had returned to Malaysia from Europe on February 14.
Fernando told the judge the witness's testimony
differed from what he said in a prior interview, when
he told the defence he knew when Anwar left Europe.
The lawyer said he might have to impeach the witness
-- meaning all his evidence would be struck from the
record.
But after an adjournment to interview Mohamad Zaid
again, the civil servant said he and Anwar were on the
same flight from Europe which arrived in Malaysia on
the morning of February 14.
Anwar's former police bodyguard Zul Aznam testified
about a meeting in August 1997 between the politician
and Azizan, the man he is accused of sodomising.
Zul said Amir Junus, deputy director of the police
Special Branch (political section), told him to notify
Anwar about the meeting.
It was held at Anwar's official residence and was also
attended by Amir, the Special Branch director Mohamad
Said Awang and himself.
"As far as I can remember (Anwar) did not order me to
contact Amir or Mohamad Said to bring Azizan to his
residence," Zul said, adding that he believed the
meeting was on August 18, 1997.
Azizan and Ummi Hafilda Mohamad Ali, the sister of
Anwar's former political secretary, wrote to Mahathir
in 1997 alleging sexual misconduct by the deputy
premier.
On August 24 that year Mahathir dismissed the
allegations as ridiculous and said the writer of one
letter had already retracted the claims.
The trial was continuing Wednesday.
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