Court to hear Anwar's appeal

Court to hear Anwar's appeal

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia's highest court will hear on Aug. 1 an appeal by jailed former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim to make Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad testify at his sex trial, which has just ended.

Anwar's lawyers said on Thursday the Federal Court's move came a bit too late, since his year-long sodomy trial has ended.

Anwar's sodomy trial ended this week, with the trial judge setting Aug. 4 to deliver the verdict.

An appeal court on June 5 threw out Anwar's appeal for Mahathir to testify at the sex trial.

Anwar had lodged the appeal after High Court Judge Arifin Jaka ruled late in April Mahathir was not a material witness in the ex-minister's sodomy trial and would not have to take the stand.

Anwar is serving a six-year jail sentence for corruption.