Judge warns Malaysia PM

Judge warns Malaysia PM

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): The judge in former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim's sex trial told Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Friday to refrain from commenting on the case after the leader said his testimony was not needed.

High Court Judge Arifin Jaka put off a decision on whether to accept a defense request and call Mahathir to the witness stand in the nine month trial that has split Malaysia.

The judge told lawyers for Anwar and his adopted brother Sukma Darmawan, jointly charged with sodomizing the Anwar family's former driver, to present written arguments on Tuesday as to why they thought Mahathir should appear.

The landmark trial with political overtones has reached a critical juncture with the defense and government prosecutors arguing over whether Mahathir should be forced to take the stand.