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Malaysia court to deliver Anwar sodomy appeal verdict | Malaysia court to deliver Anwar sodomy appeal verdict |
(35 minutes later) | |
Malaysia's top court is to deliver its ruling on an appeal filed by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim against his sodomy conviction. | Malaysia's top court is to deliver its ruling on an appeal filed by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim against his sodomy conviction. |
Mr Anwar was accused of having sex with a male aide in 2008. Sodomy is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia, but very few people are ever prosecuted. | Mr Anwar was accused of having sex with a male aide in 2008. Sodomy is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia, but very few people are ever prosecuted. |
The popular politician was sentenced to five years in jail in March 2014 after an earlier acquittal was overturned.Malaysian opposition leader ruling due | |
He says the case is a bid by the ruling coalition to block him from politics. | He says the case is a bid by the ruling coalition to block him from politics. |
Mr Anwar - who heads a three-party alliance - is widely seen as the only man who can break the governing coalition's dominance, correspondents say. | Mr Anwar - who heads a three-party alliance - is widely seen as the only man who can break the governing coalition's dominance, correspondents say. |
The Barisan Nasional has been in power since 1957, but suffered its worst-ever result in the most recent elections in May 2013. | The Barisan Nasional has been in power since 1957, but suffered its worst-ever result in the most recent elections in May 2013. |
'Selective persecution' | 'Selective persecution' |
Mr Anwar said there was "no reason whatsoever for them to ever consider putting me to jail". | Mr Anwar said there was "no reason whatsoever for them to ever consider putting me to jail". |
"I am innocent," he said. "Now in the event there's a political decision to put me in jail, I understand the system, I've served time in prison... But then this is a price I have to pay." | "I am innocent," he said. "Now in the event there's a political decision to put me in jail, I understand the system, I've served time in prison... But then this is a price I have to pay." |
If his appeal fails, the 67-year-old will be unable to contest the next general election, which must be held by 2018. | If his appeal fails, the 67-year-old will be unable to contest the next general election, which must be held by 2018. |
In 2008, Mr Anwar was accused of having sex with a male political aide. He was cleared by a High Court of the charges in 2012 because of a lack of evidence. | In 2008, Mr Anwar was accused of having sex with a male political aide. He was cleared by a High Court of the charges in 2012 because of a lack of evidence. |
The government then appealed against his acquittal and it was overturned by the court. | The government then appealed against his acquittal and it was overturned by the court. |
This is Mr Anwar's second sodomy conviction since he was sacked from the Barisan Nasional government in 1998. His previous conviction was also overturned. | This is Mr Anwar's second sodomy conviction since he was sacked from the Barisan Nasional government in 1998. His previous conviction was also overturned. |
Human Rights Watch condemned what it described as the "selective persecution" of Mr Anwar. | Human Rights Watch condemned what it described as the "selective persecution" of Mr Anwar. |
"PM Najib's government wants to push him off the political process," Reuters news agency quoted Phil Robertson, the group's deputy director for Asia, as saying. | "PM Najib's government wants to push him off the political process," Reuters news agency quoted Phil Robertson, the group's deputy director for Asia, as saying. |
Timeline: Anwar Ibrahim | Timeline: Anwar Ibrahim |