Dramatic ruling frees Anwar from jail<\/p>\n
Agencies, Putrajaya, Malaysia<\/p>\n
Jailed former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim left court a
\nfree man after Malaysia's top court overturned his sodomy
\nconviction on Thursday -- six years to the day after his removal
\nfrom office triggered the country's worst political crisis.<\/p>\n
A Federal Court panel ruled 2-1 to reverse the conviction
\nagainst Anwar, once considered the heir apparent of his mentor-
\nturned-nemesis, then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. But
\nMahathir fired him, touching off widespread political turmoil.<\/p>\n
Mahathir's successor, Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi,
\nhad been expected to take a softer line toward Anwar and put the
\ndivisive issue behind Malaysia after he took office last year.<\/p>\n
Anwar immediately vowed to continue his campaign for political
\nreform.<\/p>\n
Speaking later to a crowd of more than 1,000 people outside
\nhis house, Anwar condemned the \"dirty political conspiracy by the
\npowers that be\" for his imprisonment.<\/p>\n
He added, \"If it was Dr. Mahathir, I would have been finished
\noff.\" Earlier, in his first remarks after the judges ordered him
\nfreed, Anwar insisted that he bore no ill will toward Mahathir,
\nwho retired 10 months ago.<\/p>\n
\"I bear no malice against him. Let him retire,\" Anwar said. \"I
\nfeel vindicated.\" But the combative Mahathir said he was \"mildly
\nsurprised\" by the ruling. \"I'm not going to lose any sleep,\" he
\nsaid. \"I still believe that he's guilty. My conscience is clear.\"<\/p>\n
Anwar is expected to travel to Germany for surgery to treat a
\nnear-crippling back injury, partly blamed on a beating by
\nMalaysia's then police chief following his arrest in 1998 after
\nleading a massive anti-Mahathir demonstration.<\/p>\n
Judge Abdul Hamid Mohamad read out the verdict over one and a
\nhalf hours. As it became apparent that Anwar, 57, would be freed,
\nthe prisoner -- wearing a neck brace and confined to a wheelchair
\n-- exchanged excited glances with family members.<\/p>\n
\"We are not prepared to uphold the conviction,\" Abdul Hamid
\nsaid. \"We therefore allow this appeal and set aside the
\nconviction and the sentence.\"<\/p>\n
He added that the conviction was flawed because the chief
\nprosecution witness, Azizan Abubakar, had repeatedly changed the
\ndates that he claimed Anwar had had sex with him. Azizan had been
\nthe driver for Anwar's wife.<\/p>\n
Abdullah declared that he doubted Anwar's release would affect
\npolitical stability, adding that Anwar was free to go anywhere he
\nliked. \"I will meet him if he wants to see me. What's wrong with
\nthat?\" Abdullah said.<\/p>\n
Anwar had been expected to be in prison for another five
\nyears. A separate six-year corruption sentence ran out last year
\nafter it was reduced for good behavior.<\/p>\n
Releasing Anwar ends a long international embarrassment for
\nMalaysia in which the United States and international human
\nrights groups contended he was a political prisoner.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Embassy said in a statement that it was \"gratifying
\nto see that justice has now been served ...\"<\/p>\n
Indonesia hailed the \"independent\" judiciary process. \"What is
\nimportant is to acknowledge its reflection of the independence of
\nthe judiciary, a key feature of democratic government in today's
\nSoutheast Asia,\" Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Marty
\nNatalegawa told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He added, \"I am sure that many of Anwar Ibrahim's friends in
\nIndonesia welcome his release.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dramatic-ruling-frees-anwar-from-jail-1447893297",
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