Anwar Freed Of Sodomy Charge

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim (centre) was found not guilty Monday of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, in 2008. In acquitting and discharging Anwar, High Court judge Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah said he found that there was no corroborative evidence in Mohd Saiful's testimony. He said the court was reluctant to convict the accused solely on Mohd Saiful's evidence. The court could not rely solely on the evidence of Mohd Saiful, he added. Anwar smiled as the verdict was read out in a packed courtroom, with his family members hugging one another in a tearful embrace. Anwar, 64, had been charged with sodomising Mohd Saiful, 26, at a Desa Damansara unit in Bukit Damansara here, between 3.10pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008. He was charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code which carries a sentence of up to 20 years' jail and whipping, upon conviction. This had been the second sodomy charge faced by Anwar. On Aug 8, 2000, he was convicted and sentenced to nine years' jail after being found guilty by the High Court of sodomising driver Azizan Abu Bakar. However, four years later, he was freed after the Federal Court, in a 2-1 majority decision, overturned the conviction and set aside the jail sentence. (photoBERNAMA) MALAYSIA