Anwar’s sodomy trial transferred to High Court

By SK English Team

The Kuala Lumpur High Court has granted an appeal by the prosecution to transfer the sodomy trial of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim from the Sessions Court to the High Court.

The Sessions Court will meet on Tuesday to fix a date for the transfer of the case, while Anwar’s lawyer will file an appeal at the Court of Appeal tomorrow.

High Court judge Mohamad Zabidin Md Diah ruled today that a certificate of transfer issued by Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail was valid, rejecting the objections raised by the defence team.

Anwar, who is also Permatang Pauh MP, was charged with sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 23, at the Desa Damansara condominium some time on June 26, 2008.

The charges were preferred at the Sessions Court, but the Attorney-General wanted to transfer the hearing to the High Court. His request was objected to by the defence and turned down by Sessions Court judge SM Komathy Suppiah.

Komathy had ruled that the transfer certificate signed by the AG, Abdul Gani Patail, was invalid and thus the case could be heard at the lower court.

Anwar has denied the charges, which he says were fabricated by his political enemies. But if convicted, he could face up to 20 years in jail. He is currently on a personal bond of RM20,000.