|
|
Change Your Life! |
Anwar's lawyers have to wrap up |
|
|
News |
||
|
June 13, 2000
KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 12 (AP) - A High Court judge on Monday ordered lawyers for jailed politician Anwar Ibrahim to wrap up their case despite angry protests from the defense team that it had not exhausted its list of witnesses or completed arguments.
"This is not the procedure," said Christopher Fernando, Anwar's lawyer, as the judge insisted that the defense case be closed by the end of the day
Fernando said he had at least four more witnesses and the issue of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's testimony was yet to be decided finally. |
|
|
"My ruling is final. Not allowed," Judge Ariffin Jaka insisted.
He said the defense lawyers could be given more time later if the Federal Court ordered Mahathir to testify in the sodomy trial of his former deputy prime minister.
"We can close the case today, subject to the ruling by the Federal Court."
For months, the defense has tried to force Mahathir to testify in his ex-protege's trial. Anwar's lawyers say the 74-year-old leader's testimony is crucial because he allegedly masterminded a conspiracy to destroy Anwar's career.
Ariffin ruled two months ago that there was no evidence to support such allegations, a decision which was upheld by an appellate court this week. Anwar is appealing against that decision to the Federal Court, Malaysia's highest court.
Speaking to reporters later, Fernando said the judge appeared to be determined to shut out the defense once again.
"We can't close the case yet. But he is determined to stop me.
He wants to close the case, let him do it," Fernando said.
Throughout the yearlong trial, Anwar's lawyers have complained of discrimination.
Anwar, who was fired by Mahathir in September 1998, is accused of sodomizing his former family driver, Azizan Abu Bakar, sometime in 1993. Anwar denies the charge, saying it was politically motivated.
Anwar's sodomy trial began soon after his first conviction on four counts of corruption in April 1999. He is serving a six-year sentence and could get 20 more years if convicted of sodomy, a crime in this predominantly Muslim nation.
|
||