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.