Anwar is legally entitled to bail, his lawyers tell appeal
Malaysia's Court of Appeal yesterday resumed hearings on a bail application filed by jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. He is seeking bail pending the final outcome of his appeal to a higher court against a nine-year sentence for sodomy.
Arguing before a panel of three judges, his lawyers said he was entitled to bail by law and that he needed to undergo urgent spinal surgery in Germany following injuries suffered after the police chief assaulted him in September 1998, soon after his arrest.
The prosecution opposed the move, saying if freed, there was no guarantee Anwar would not commit a crime or interfere with witnesses.
The hearing will be concluded today but a decision from the judges could take as long as several weeks, lawyers said.
Armed police watched as about 500 supporters gathered outside the court and shouted 'Free Anwar!' as Anwar arrived, wearing neck braces and using a wheelchair.
Anwar already has completed a four-year sentence for corruption.
The Federal Court, the country's highest, will hear his appeal against the sodomy conviction and has agreed to a judicial review of his corruption conviction.
No dates have been fixed for both appeals.
The court hearings aside, few Malaysians believe the judges will free Anwar.
'This is a political case and it would take a political decision from the highest political office to free Anwar,' said Lim Kit Siang, chairman of the opposition DAP party.
Although retiring Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said it was up to his successor Abdullah Badawi to resolve the 'Anwar problem', observers say freedom for Anwar is still far away.
'Mr Badawi and his loyalists would be happy to see political rival Anwar remain behind bars,' said Raja Petra Kamaruddin, an Anwar loyalist and director of the Free Anwar movement.
