Let courts decide Anwar's fate: Mahathir<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said
\non Thursday that Malaysia's neighbors should let the country's
\ncourts decide the fate of his sacked deputy instead of implying
\nthat the government had influence over the case.<\/p>\n
\"The judiciary in Malaysia is not beholden to the government
\nunlike the judiciary in some countries where you can be sure they
\nwill decide for the government and make sure that whoever attacks
\nthe government will be punished to the point that there will be
\nno return for them,\" Mahathir told reporters.<\/p>\n
Philippine President Joseph Estrada said on Wednesday that
\nAnwar Ibrahim, sacked as finance minister and deputy prime
\nminister and charged with sodomy and corruption, should not be
\ntreated as a common criminal but instead released and placed
\nunder house arrest pending his trial.<\/p>\n
Estrada said Indonesian President B.J. Habibie also shared his
\nconcern and the Philippines and Indonesia may make a joint appeal
\nto Malaysia on the matter.<\/p>\n
Mahathir said the Malaysian government did not have control of
\nthe judiciary and therefore could not decide on Anwar's fate. He
\ncited the beating of black motorist by white policemen in the
\nUnited States several years ago as an example of brutality
\nelsewhere.<\/p>\n
Lawyers<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Anwar's lawyers said on Thursday they would pursue a
\nhigh court application seeking his release from indefinite
\ndetention under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA).<\/p>\n
Anwar remains in jail however as he was immediately remanded
\nin custody on other charges, since the High Court last week
\nrefused his plea for bail.<\/p>\n
The High Court has set Oct. 24 to hear the habeas corpus
\napplication filed by Anwar's wife Azizah on Oct. 8, naming
\nInspector-General of Police Abdul Rahim Noor as respondent.<\/p>\n
In filing the application a week ago Azizah had said the facts
\nsupporting the habeas corpus application will be read when the
\napplication is heard in the high court.\"<\/p>\n
Malaysian newspapers reported on Thursday that authorities are
\nready to prosecute jailed dissident Anwar on six sodomy and
\ncorruption charges in addition to the four charges he now faces.<\/p>\n
Attorney-General Mohtar Abdullah said the prosecution had
\napplied to the High Court to fix a trial date, the New Straits
\nTimes daily reported.<\/p>\n
\"The prosecution has all the necessary evidence ... for all
\nthe 10 charges against Anwar,\" he said, rejecting speculation
\nthat authorities weren't ready to prosecute.<\/p>\n
Anwar, 51, was fired Sept. 2 as deputy prime minister and
\narrested 18 days later. He had clashed with Mahathir over
\neconomic policy before being dismissed for alleged immoral
\nhomosexual acts and corruption.<\/p>\n
Anwar has pleaded innocent to all five counts of corruption
\nand five counts of sodomy, claiming they were trumped up by his
\npolitical adversaries. He has been ordered to stand trial Nov. 2.<\/p>\n
Mohtar said that if the hearings on the first four corruption
\ncharges could be completed by November, the prosecution would
\napply for hearing dates for the other charges in December or
\nJanuary.<\/p>",
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