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Malaysian opposition leader Anwar loses appeal against sodomy conviction

Top court finds him guilty of sodomising an aide, in a case that has drawn allegations it was politically motivated

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Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim at the federal court in Putrajaya. Photo: Reuters

Malaysia’s top court today upheld opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy conviction, a case widely seen at home and aboard as politically motivated.

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Federal Court judge Arifin Zakat, who read the verdict on behalf of the five-judge panel, said there was “overwhelming evidence” that Anwar sodomised an aide, and therefore the court was upholding a five-year prison sentence imposed by the Appeals Court last year.

This was Anwar’s last avenue for appeal, and it means he will go back to prison immediately.

As the last sentence of the verdict was read out, Anwar’s wife, Wan Azizah, burst into tears. The 67-year-old poltician hugged and consoled her before turning to his children and grandchildren. He smiled and hugged them too.

“I am alright,” he told one of his supporters in the court room. Hundreds more were gathered outside the imposing court building in Putrajaya, the administrative capital of Malaysia.

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Watch: Malaysia's Anwar sodomy verdict raises human rights concerns

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