Malaysia’s Appeals Court rejected a motion yesterday by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to have a charge of sodomy against him dismissed.
The trial, which started earlier this month, has already seen Anwar’s 24-year-old male accuser say in court that the veteran politician sodomized him in 2008, a crime in majority Muslim Malaysia that carries a jail term of up to 20 years.
Anwar has sought to have the charge dismissed saying it was part of a political conspiracy against him, that there was no physical evidence to support the charge and that the charge was deliberately brought to disgrace him.
The trial will resume today when the judge will rule on a request from Anwar’s lawyers that he stand down from the case for allowing what Anwar terms prejudicial media coverage.
The case is being closely watched by international observers who fear a repeat of what they saw as a flawed conviction for sodomy for the former deputy prime minister in 2000. That earlier conviction was overturned on appeal although one for corruption remained.
“Do you expect for a miracle? You pray for miracles, you don’t expect them,” a relaxed looking Anwar told reporters as he entered the court.
The trial has drawn criticism from US politicians, but no officials have issued any statements.
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