Anwar lawyers threaten to ask for PM arrest

Anwar lawyers threaten to ask for PM arrest

KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): The defense in Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy case threatened on Tuesday to ask authorities to arrest Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad if he fails to testify at the trial of his former deputy.

Defense counsel Gobind Singh Deo told the capital's High Court a subpoena ordering Mahathir to testify in court on Thursday had not been served even though the prime minister had said he would be willing to testify in the landmark trial.

Judge Arifin Jaka issued the subpoena last week directing Mahathir to appear on Oct. 28 provided Anwar and his adopted brother, Sukma Darmawan, had both completed their testimony in the trial, which has divided Malaysia.

Anwar and Sukma are jointly charged with sodomizing the Anwar family's former driver between January and March 1993. They have both pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail and whipping.

Mahathir, who sacked Anwar in September 1998 and later accused him of sexual misconduct and of trying to topple his government, said on Tuesday he would appear in court if required, but the questions must relate to the sodomy charge.

"If I am required, I will appear in the court," Mahathir told reporters after addressing a business meeting, saying he had not received any subpoena.

"Even if they want to interview me, I want to know what questions, whether they are relevant to sodomy or not," he said.

"I don't think they can summon me on things like conspiracy and arsenic poisoning."

Anwar has alleged that he was the victim of a political conspiracy, and last month he said opponents had tried to poison him with arsenic. A panel of doctors later said he showed no signs of poisoning.

An appearance by Mahathir at the trial could have a major political impact as Malaysia prepares for general elections due by mid-2000 but expected as soon as next month.

Judge Arifin said his subpoena had not been given to Mahathir. Asked by Gobind why the subpoena had not been served, Arifin said: "Don't ask me. Ask the police."

Deputy High Court registrar Rozilah Salleh told the court: "The subpoena has been issued and given to the police, but until now it has not been served."

An angry Gobind said the defense would not let the matter drop. "I want the prime minister to come to this court. We'll take him on any time. If he doesn't turn up, we'll ask for a warrant of arrest."

Attorney-General Mohtar Abdullah said he was considering asking the court to set aside the subpoena as it had been issued on behalf of Sukma.

"The prime minister has nothing to do with the second accused as far as the evidence is concerned," Mohtar said, adding it was not necessary to subpoena Mahathir now as neither Anwar nor Sukma had finished testifying.

Anwar was called as the defense's first witness on Friday and he testified for a second day on Monday. He accused cabinet ministers of corruption and of conspiring to oust him, and accused Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin of sexual misconduct.

In a related development, a brother of Anwar was charged on Tuesday in an Islamic court on suspicion of being in "close proximity" with a woman.

Islam bans Muslim couples who are not married to each other from being in close proximity or having sex.

Idrus Ibrahim and his companion Che Som Hashim pleaded not guilty to committing the offense at a condominium on Oct. 18, the state Bernama news agency reported.

Idrus, a 56-year-old former headmaster and a local official of the National Justice Party headed by Anwar's wife, told the court they were married, Bernama said.