Anwar Ibrahim faces political wilderness<\/p>\n
By K. Baranee Krishnaan<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Guilty or innocent, Malaysia's ousted
\nfinance minister Anwar Ibrahim faces prolonged political exile
\nafter his corruption trial ends this week.<\/p>\n
Even if High Court Judge Augustine Paul acquits Anwar on
\nWednesday of the four corruption charges at hand, his lawyers say
\nhe will not walk free as a fifth corruption count and five sodomy
\ncharges still hang over his head.<\/p>\n
The attorney-general has said he could press other sex-related
\ncharges. Anwar says he believes the government has also prepared
\ntreason counts.<\/p>\n
Anwar will lodge an appeal with the Court of Appeal if, as he
\nanticipates, he is convicted, his lawyers said.<\/p>\n
Each of the four corruption charges carries a maximum penalty
\nof 14 years in jail and a 20,000 ringgit (US$5,000) fine. The
\nsacked minister said he expects to be jailed for two to four
\nyears.<\/p>\n
\"We expect him to get two to four years too,\" one of Anwar's
\nnine trial lawyers, who declined to be identified, told Reuters.
\n\"But politically, he could be in exile longer.\"<\/p>\n
Under the Elections Commissions Act, anyone fined at least
\n2,000 ringgit or imprisoned for one year or more is disqualified
\nfrom running for legislative office for five years after the
\nprison term ends.<\/p>\n
Barred from parliament, Anwar would be kept on the political
\nmargins.<\/p>\n
A jail sentence in Malaysia usually runs from the date of
\narrest, especially in cases such as Anwar's in which the
\ndefendant is denied bail and held in remand during trial. Anwar
\nhas been in detention for nearly seven months.<\/p>\n
Prisoners are usually released after serving two-thirds of
\ntheir sentence provided they demonstrate good behavior.<\/p>\n
Taking into account his remand and assuming good behavior,
\nAnwar would could walk free next January if given a two-year jail
\nsentence and no other charges are pressed.<\/p>\n
With a four-year term, he could be free in May 2001.<\/p>\n
If convicted, Anwar's lawyers said they will immediately file
\nan appeal. It was not clear whether they would ask for a stay of
\nexecution pending the outcome of the appeal as that move could
\ndeny him the possibility of having an eventual jail term reduced
\nby the seven months he has spent in detention.<\/p>\n
If jailed, Anwar could serve time at the Kajang prison 25 km
\n(15 miles) south of the capital. He is currently being held at
\nthe Sungai Buloh remand prison, about the same distance north of
\nKuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
While an appeal was under consideration, Anwar could ask the
\nHigh Court for bail on the remaining six charges, lawyers said.<\/p>\n
The Court of Appeal normally takes six months to a year to
\nhear an appeal.<\/p>\n
\"Since this is a case of public interest, we may have the
\nhearing by middle or end of the year,\" Gurbachan Singh, one of
\nAnwar's trial lawyers, told Reuters. \"We are hoping for an early
\nhearing.\"<\/p>\n
Anwar's lawyers said they could argue on both case specifics
\nand point of law before a three-member bench at the Court of
\nAppeal.<\/p>\n
If Anwar exhausted his chances at the Court of Appeal, his
\nnext avenue would be the Federal Court.<\/p>\n
His last resort for clemency would be to ask for a pardon from
\nthe king, who normally acts on advice from the government.<\/p>",
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