Kuala Lampur, March 25: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim described his sodomy trial as “rotten” and “malicious” after a court Thursday set fresh dates for a second round of the hearing in May.
The trial opened in February briefly before it was adjourned as Anwar’s lawyers mounted a series of unsuccessful legal manoeuvres, including bids to strike out the entire case and for access to key evidence.
The High Court scheduled the trial to continue on May 10 and will hear the case over four separate sessions up to August 30.
“The trial shouldn’t have started. This rotten charge, it’s malicious, it’s trumped-up, it shouldn’t have started in the first place,” Anwar told reporters outside the court.
“This is wasting public resources and people’s time. This is fitting into their political game using all the instruments of government.”
Anwar was sacked in 1998 and convicted on sodomy and corruption charges but was released in 2004 after the sexual misconduct count was overturned, allowing him to make a comeback to politics as the leader of a reinvigorated opposition.
The married father-of-six could be jailed for up to 20 years if convicted of illicit sexual relations with Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a male former aide.
Anwar’s lawyers said the trial will resume with the cross-examination of Saiful, who has testified in court that Anwar propositioned him for sex shortly after he came to an apartment in 2008 to deliver a document.
US-based rights group Human Rights Watch on Wednesday urged Malaysia to drop sodomy charges against Anwar, condemning the case as a “charade of justice”.
“Every step of the way the court has blocked Anwar’s lawyer from preparing a thorough defence,” said Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch Asia deputy director.
—Agencies