Dramatic ruling frees Anwar from jail

Dramatic ruling frees Anwar from jail

Agencies, Putrajaya, Malaysia

Jailed former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim left court a
free man after Malaysia's top court overturned his sodomy
conviction on Thursday -- six years to the day after his removal
from office triggered the country's worst political crisis.

A Federal Court panel ruled 2-1 to reverse the conviction
against Anwar, once considered the heir apparent of his mentor-
turned-nemesis, then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. But
Mahathir fired him, touching off widespread political turmoil.

Mahathir's successor, Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi,
had been expected to take a softer line toward Anwar and put the
divisive issue behind Malaysia after he took office last year.

Anwar immediately vowed to continue his campaign for political
reform.

Speaking later to a crowd of more than 1,000 people outside
his house, Anwar condemned the "dirty political conspiracy by the
powers that be" for his imprisonment.

He added, "If it was Dr. Mahathir, I would have been finished
off." Earlier, in his first remarks after the judges ordered him
freed, Anwar insisted that he bore no ill will toward Mahathir,
who retired 10 months ago.

"I bear no malice against him. Let him retire," Anwar said. "I
feel vindicated." But the combative Mahathir said he was "mildly
surprised" by the ruling. "I'm not going to lose any sleep," he
said. "I still believe that he's guilty. My conscience is clear."

Anwar is expected to travel to Germany for surgery to treat a
near-crippling back injury, partly blamed on a beating by
Malaysia's then police chief following his arrest in 1998 after
leading a massive anti-Mahathir demonstration.

Judge Abdul Hamid Mohamad read out the verdict over one and a
half hours. As it became apparent that Anwar, 57, would be freed,
the prisoner -- wearing a neck brace and confined to a wheelchair
-- exchanged excited glances with family members.

"We are not prepared to uphold the conviction," Abdul Hamid
said. "We therefore allow this appeal and set aside the
conviction and the sentence."

He added that the conviction was flawed because the chief
prosecution witness, Azizan Abubakar, had repeatedly changed the
dates that he claimed Anwar had had sex with him. Azizan had been
the driver for Anwar's wife.

Abdullah declared that he doubted Anwar's release would affect
political stability, adding that Anwar was free to go anywhere he
liked. "I will meet him if he wants to see me. What's wrong with
that?" Abdullah said.

Anwar had been expected to be in prison for another five
years. A separate six-year corruption sentence ran out last year
after it was reduced for good behavior.

Releasing Anwar ends a long international embarrassment for
Malaysia in which the United States and international human
rights groups contended he was a political prisoner.

The U.S. Embassy said in a statement that it was "gratifying
to see that justice has now been served ..."

Indonesia hailed the "independent" judiciary process. "What is
important is to acknowledge its reflection of the independence of
the judiciary, a key feature of democratic government in today's
Southeast Asia," Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Marty
Natalegawa told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

He added, "I am sure that many of Anwar Ibrahim's friends in
Indonesia welcome his release."