H-Net* Anwar's Trial Update
*~* { Sila lawat Laman Hizbi-Net - http://www.hizbi.net } {Hantarkan mesej anda ke: [EMAIL PROTECTED] } {Iklan barangan? Hantarkan ke [EMAIL PROTECTED] } *~* PAS : KE ARAH PEMERINTAHAN ISLAM YANG ADIL ~~~ AFP News Witness says feared for life after telling Anwar of conspiracy KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 (AFP) - A former Malaysian ruling party official told the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial Monday that he feared for his life after tipping off the then-deputy premier about a political conspiracy to smear and topple him. Raja Kamaruddin Raja Wahid said Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin, then the political secretary to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, was involved in the plot and had admitted paying people to invent stories about homosexual acts committed by Anwar. Raja Kamaruddin, a defence witness, said he tipped off Anwar after seeking guidance from God. He also made a statutory declaration and videotaped statement in case "anything happened to me." "If you were afraid for your life, why didn't you lodge a police report?" prosecutor Azahar Mohamad asked him. "I did not believe in the police's integrity," Raja Kamaruddin replied. Applause broke out in the public gallery and police ejected one person on the judge's orders. Earlier Raja Kamaruddin testified that Aziz, now deputy education minister, told him at a meeting on June 26, 1998 about moves to destroy Anwar's reputation so he could never become prime minister. Anwar, sacked in September 1998 and then detained after leading mass anti-government protests, was once Mahathir's heir apparent. Defence lawyers have said they plan to call Mahathir, 74, to testify on Thursday but the prosecution is expected to object. Raja Kamaruddin, a branch leader in Mahathir's United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party in 1998, said Friday that Aziz vetted and changed the letters in which the allegations of Anwar's sexual misconduct were first made. They were written by Anwar's driver Azizan Abu Bakar and by Ummi Hafilda Mohamad Ali, the sister of Anwar's former political secretary. Anwar and his adopted brother Sukma Darmawan are charged with sodomising Azizan in early 1993, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. On Monday, Raja Kamaruddin said Aziz told him he was paying Azizan and Ummi Hafilda to make up stories. "Aziz said there would be no problems from Azizan and Ummi Hafilda because they were short of money and when I (Aziz) give them money and ask them to make up stories and make whatever changes to statements they have made related to sodomy charges against Anwar, they did that," he testified. "Aziz also said the best way to topple Anwar was by making up charges on sodomy and adultery, and other matters would not have any such effect. "His work was to spread whatever stories were made up by Ummi and Azizan to Anwar supporters so that they would hate Anwar." He said Aziz told him he had wanted revenge against Anwar for a long time. "Aziz told me, 'Why does Anwar want to become prime minister? It would be better for Pak Lah (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) to become prime minister.'" Abdullah succeeded Anwar as deputy premier. Anwar was jailed for six years last April for abusing his official powers to cover up the allegations of sexual misconduct. He says he fell foul of a political conspiracy after threatening to expose official corruption. The government denies any plot. Raja Kamaruddin said he and Aziz also visited the office of a lawyer named Rais Zainuddin, who told him to spread stories that Anwar was an agent of the US Central Intelligence Agency. After that meeting he decided to tip off Anwar. "On my way back, I realised that slander was a big sin. I asked guidance from God ... and I knew I had to go see Anwar." A meeting was arranged at 1 a.m. the next day. Anwar did not press him to take any action but Raja Kamaruddin said he decided to make a videotaped confession. "I was made to understand that Aziz Shamsuddin is the most powerful man in Malaysia, that he is trusted and is very close to the PM. "I made the video so that Anwar could use it if anything happened to me, if I died or something. I also made an official report to Anwar about the conspiracy and also a statutory declaration." He said he wrote about the conspiracy to Mahathir on August 15, 1999. The case continues Tuesday. __ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com ( Melanggan ? To : [EMAIL PROTECTED] pada body : SUBSCRIBE HIZB) ( Berhenti ? To : [EMAIL PROTECTED] pada body: UNSUBSCRIBE HIZB) ( Segala pendapat yang dikemukakan tidak menggambarkan ) ( pandangan rasmi & bukan
H-Net* Anwar's Trial Update - 16 Feb 2000
*~* { Sila lawat Laman Hizbi-Net - http://www.hizbi.net } {Hantarkan mesej anda ke: [EMAIL PROTECTED] } {Iklan barangan? Hantarkan ke [EMAIL PROTECTED] } *~* PAS : KE ARAH PEMERINTAHAN ISLAM YANG ADIL ~~~ 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. __ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com ( Melanggan ? To : [EMAIL PROTECTED] pada body : SUBSCRIBE HIZB) ( Berhenti ? To : [EMAIL PROTECTED] pada body: UNSUBSCRIBE HIZB) ( Segala pendapat yang dikemukakan tidak menggambarkan ) ( pandangan rasmi & bukan tanggungjawab HIZBI-Net ) ( Bermasalah? Sila hubungi [EMAIL PROTECTED]) ~~