Anwar says Mahathir afraid to testify as trial adjourned
KUALA
LUMPUR, June 7 (AFP) - Malaysia's jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, who
is on trial for sodomy, on Wednesday blasted Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
for being "afraid" to testify in the case.
The
court of appeal Monday rejected Anwar's bid to force his former mentor to obey
a subpoena and give evidence for the defence.
Defence
lawyers now want the sodomy trial adjourned until they have made a final
attempt in the federal court -- Malaysia's highest court -- to summon Mahathir.
"Once
again it's clear that Dr Mahathir is taking cover behind the courts," said
Anwar in a handwritten note given to reporters in court Wednesday, the first
anniversary of the start of the trial.
"He
dares to slander and conspire against me but is afraid to face me and give
evidence in court."
Anwar,
once Mahathir's heir apparent, also criticised the appeal court for deciding in
favour of Mahathir hastily and without giving any reason.
Sacked
in September 1998 and subsequently detained, Anwar was jailed for six years in
April 1999 for abusing his official powers to cover up allegations of sexual
misconduct.
He
is now on trial with his adopted brother Sukma Darmawan for sodomy and faces up
to 20 more years if convicted.
Anwar
says he was framed by a high-level conspiracy because he intended to expose
corruption and was seen as a political threat to the premier.
He
says Mahathir can give crucial evidence to prove his innocence.
The
government denies any conspiracy and Mahathir has said he suspects the attempt
to call him may be a political stunt. Anwar is nominal leader of an opposition
alliance.
On
April 21 Arifin Jaka, the judge hearing the sodomy case, ruled there was
"not an iota of evidence" that Mahathir was behind any conspiracy and
said he need not heed the subpoena.
Arifin
allowed Anwar to appeal his ruling. But the three appeal court judges decided
the defence had no legal grounds to challenge Arifin's decision.
The
trial was scheduled to resume Wednesday but was postponed to Friday.
Registrar
Rosilah Salleh said not all witnesses had been notified of Wednesday's hearing.
She
said the adjournment was also meant to allow the defence to meet Lamin Yunus,
president of the court of appeal, for seeking a stay of proceedings.
Defence
lawyers want the trial postponed till the federal court rules on whether
Mahathir should appear. They were expected to announce later whether Lamin had
granted their request.