The judge hearing Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial was accused of lying yesterday, in a blistering attack as the defense sought to disqualify him from the case.
Anwar, who faces 20 years imprisonment if convicted of illicit sexual relations with a young former aide, has condemned the allegations as a political conspiracy to sideline the opposition.
He has accused High Court judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah of refusing to rein in “biased” media coverage including the publishing of a photo taken during a closed-door hearing at the apartment where the alleged encounter took place.
“Your lordship can’t demonstrate that you are impartial,” defense counsel Karpal Singh said, telling the judge he should have cautioned the Utusan Malaysia daily, which ran the picture and an earlier suggestive headline.
The photo showed 24-year-old Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, Anwar’s accuser, gesturing towards a bed in the apartment. Karpal said the judge was wrong in arguing that the bed had been mentioned in open court.
“With due respect, your lordship didn’t tell the truth and that translates into your lordship has lied,” he said. “Your lordship has no alternative but to step down.”
Lead prosecutor Mohamed Yusof Zainal Abiden hit back, saying the defense was being “insulting” and that the bed had indeed been mentioned in public hearings.
“Lawyers can defend their client without fear or favor but to use strong language against the judge is unacceptable,” he said.
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