Court rejects Anwar’s bid for case review

AFP, PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia: Former Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will remain in jail after the country’s highest court on Thursday rejected his bid for a review of his controversial 2014 sodomy conviction.
Anwar last year began serving a five-year jail term for sodomising a male aide, charges that his supporters say were trumped up to sideline the former deputy prime minister, who reinvented himself as an opposition firebrand.
The government denies the charge, insisting that its judicial system is independent and impartial.
Human Rights Watch called the decision by the Federal Court a “real tragedy for justice in Malaysia”.
“This outcome shows that the Malaysian courts were no match for Prime Minister Najib Razak’s political vendetta against Anwar,” Human Rights Watch’s Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson said.
Anwar was heir-apparent to leadership of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in the late 1990s until his ouster in a power battle with then-leader Mahathir Mohamad.
He was jailed in 1998 for six years on sodomy and corruption charges that he also calle.

 

Court rejects Anwars bid for case review

AFP, PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia: Former Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will remain in jail after the countrys highest court on Thursday rejected his bid for a review of his controversial 2014 sodomy conviction. Anwar last year began serving a five-year jail term for sodomising a male aide, charges that his supporters say were trumped up to sideline the former deputy prime minister, who reinvented himself as an opposition firebrand. The government denies the charge, insisting that its judicial system is independent and impartial. Human Rights Watch called the decision by the Federal Court a real tragedy for justice in Malaysia. This outcome shows that the Malaysian courts were no match for Prime Minister Najib Razaks political vendetta against Anwar, Human Rights Watchs Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson said. Anwar was heir-apparent to leadership of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in the late 1990s until his ouster in a power battle with then-leader Mahathir Mohamad. He was jailed in 1998 for six years on sodomy and corruption charges that he also calle.