Malaysian PM's aide framed Anwar: Witness

Malaysian PM's aide framed Anwar: Witness

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's former political secretary plotted to smear jailed former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim with allegations of sex crimes, a witness in the ex-minister's trial said on Monday.

Defense witness Raja Kamaruddin Raja Abdul Wahid testified that Aziz Shamsuddin said in June 1998 that he had paid Anwar's two main accusers to conspire with him against Anwar.

Aziz was Mahathir's former top political aide and is now deputy education minister.

Raja Kamaruddin told the capital's High Court: "He (Aziz) said, 'I have planned since 1997 to topple him, but this time he will get it because we have conspired with everyone.'"

The defense witness said he had asked Aziz during a meeting on June 26, 1998, if there was any other way to topple Anwar other than by smearing him with allegations of sexual misconduct. "He (Aziz) replied, 'Adultery, sodomy and buggering are the best. Other stories won't create as much impact. There would not be any thrill otherwise.'"

Anwar has contended that Mahathir's associates conspired to destroy his political career so the former premier-in-waiting could never attain power and expose corruption and cronyism.

Under prosecution questioning, Raja Kamaruddin said he had made a sworn statement and a confession on video. "I stand by what I said," he said during cross-examination.

He also said he did not go to the police "because I don't trust the police". One person in the gallery then cheered and was escorted out of the courtroom by police.

Mahathir sacked Anwar in September 1998, accusing him of being morally unfit and trying to topple his regime with violent street protests. Anwar was arrested that same month and charged with five counts each of sodomy and corruption.

He was sentenced in April to six years in jail on four counts of corruption, and is currently standing trial with his adopted brother, accused of sodomizing the Anwar family's former driver, Azizan Abu Bakar, between January and March 1993.

Azizan and Ummi Hafilda Ali, the sister of Anwar's former private secretary, wrote to Mahathir in August 1997 accusing Anwar of adultery and sodomy.

Raja Kamaruddin, on the witness stand for the second day in the eight-and-a-half-months-old trial, said he had asked Aziz if he had any proof of the allegations.

"He (Aziz) said, 'Don't worry. The letters of Ummi and Azizan, I am making up myself.'"

Raja Kamaruddin said Aziz told him in June 1998 that Azizan and Ummi were prepared to conspire.

Raja Kamaruddin said: "He (Aziz) said she (Ummi) was also broke, and when he gives her money, she can make up all sorts of stories and change whatever statements she has made. He said it was the same with Azizan. He said, 'I have paid those people, so there won't be a problem.'"

Raja Kamaruddin, 50, was a member of Mahathir's United Malays National Organization party before Anwar was sacked, defense lawyers said. They said he had since joined Parti Keadilan Nasional, an opposition party headed by Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.