Surprise twist delays the trial of Anwar<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AP): A surprise twist delayed the sex and
\ncorruption trial of former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on
\nThursday when the chief prosecutor was called away to testify in
\na related criminal case.<\/p>\n
Abdul Gani Patail, who is leading the prosecution against
\nAnwar, had been subpoenaed to take the stand against Anwar's
\nformer tennis partner, who faces the death penalty for alleged
\nillegal possession of live bullets.<\/p>\n
Anwar's trial was to resume later Thursday, however. The other
\ntrial ended up being recessed until Jan. 25 to give a new lawyer
\non the defense team time to make his preparations.<\/p>\n
In Anwar's case, now in its 14th day in court, prosecution
\nwitness Amir Junus, a former deputy chief of police intelligence,
\nwas to continue his testimony.<\/p>\n
Amir had testified Wednesday that Anwar, when in power, had
\nordered him to use scare tactics to force retractions from Ummi
\nHafilda Ali and Azizan Abu Bakar, both of whom had accused Anwar
\nof sexual misconduct.<\/p>\n
The prosecution is trying to prove that Anwar abused his power
\nby ordering police to arrest and obtain retractions from people
\nwho had written to authorities alleging his sexual misconduct.<\/p>\n
Ummi, the sister of Anwar's former secretary, had accused
\nAnwar of having sex with her brother's wife. Azizan, the
\npolitician's former chauffeur, claimed he was sodomized by his
\nboss.<\/p>\n
Anwar, 51, has repeatedly denied the 10 corruption and sex
\ncharges against him, saying they were fabricated to eliminate his
\npolitical challenge to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.<\/p>\n
Anwar's lawyers said on Thursday they would ask a court to
\nfree him on bail because he was not well. Attorney Sankaran Nair
\nsaid an application for bail had been filed in court and would be
\nheard on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"Normally in cases like these, medical conditions are always a
\nbasis to ask for bail,\" Nair told reporters.<\/p>\n
Anwar's bail application has been turned down by a lower court
\nonce and an appeal against it also failed. Trial Judge Augustine
\nPaul had rejected it, saying his lawyers weren't able to prove
\nthat Anwar would not tamper with witnesses if released on bail.<\/p>\n
Anwar suffers from a stomach disorder that causes intense
\nheartburn, his family members have said. Although he does not
\nappear to be in physical pain during his court appearances, his
\nlawyers say his condition has worsened.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/surprise-twist-delays-the-trial-of-anwar-1447893297",
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