Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy acquittal overturned
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had his acquittal for sodomy overturned on Friday, in a fresh threat to the remarkable career of a charismatic politician who helped turn around the country’s once-hapless opposition.
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had his acquittal for sodomy overturned on Friday, in a fresh threat to the remarkable career of a charismatic politician who helped turn around the country’s once-hapless opposition.
A Court of Appeals panel upheld a government bid challenging the 2012 ruling which acquitted him on charges he sodomised a male former aide, saying a lower court had misjudged evidence.
Anwar, 66, was sentenced to five years in jail, but freed pending appeal.
It is a travesty of justice. I would have thought you would have some courage
Once a rising star in Malaysia’s long-ruling party until his spectacular ouster in the late 1990s, Anwar has alleged a long-running campaign by the ruling regime to destroy his political career with false charges.
He bitterly chastised the judges after the ruling.
“It is a travesty of justice. I would have thought you would have some courage,” he said to the panel.
Friday’s ruling sparked an uproar in a courtroom filled with Anwar’s opposition colleagues and supporters, as his wife and three daughters burst into tears.