Anwar hopeful of appeal review

Anwar hopeful of appeal review

MALAYSIA: Malaysia's highest court has set March 18 to hear a
review of an earlier ruling to overturn ex-deputy premier Anwar
Ibrahim's conviction and six-year sentence for corruption, his
lawyer said on Wednesday.

The Federal Court last year dismissed an appeal by Anwar to
have his corruption conviction overturned.

The appeal is technically the last legal avenue for Anwar
after the Court of Appeal dismissed his case in April 2000, but
the Federal Court allows a final review of its decision.

Counsel Sankara Nair said that if the review panel found the
Federal Court ruling flawed, it could order a retrial or reverse
the verdict. If Anwar fails again this time, his final resort is
to seek a royal pardon to clear his name. --AFP