Anwar's assailant stays in jail

Anwar's assailant stays in jail

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): The Malaysian police chief who beat up jailed former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday lost his appeal for a reduction in the two-month jail sentence handed down to him for the assault.

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Rahim Noor resigned his post after admitting assaulting Anwar while he was in custody in September 1998. Rahim said he provoked by Anwar calling him "father of dogs".

Photographs of Anwar looking roughed up and sporting a black eye after the assault were carried in newspapers around the world, fueling an international outcry over the treatment meted out to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's rival.

Anwar was detained on the day of the assault after leading a street demonstration to protest his dismissal from the cabinet. The appeal judge set aside a fine of 2,000 ringgit ($526) handed to Rahim by the Sessions Court.