Anwar defense seeks PM witness

Anwar defense seeks PM witness

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): A Malaysian judge said on Thursday
that Anwar Ibrahim's defense would have to show that Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad helped frame his ex-deputy before he
would be called to testify in Anwar's sex trial.

The judge was referring to a defense request that Mahathir be
called as a witness in the 10-month trial that has split
Malaysia's biggest party and galvanized the opposition.

Anwar, who was dismissed in 1998 and is serving a six-year
jail sentence for corruption, is standing trial on one count of
sodomy which carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in jail and
whipping. He also faces four other sodomy counts and one
corruption charge.

Anwar's lawyer Karpal Singh said Mahathir shifted his stance
towards Anwar after he sacked his former protege, proving there
was a conspiracy against the former deputy prime minister.