Surprise twist delays the trial of Anwar

Surprise twist delays the trial of Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): A surprise twist delayed the sex and
corruption trial of former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on
Thursday when the chief prosecutor was called away to testify in
a related criminal case.

Abdul Gani Patail, who is leading the prosecution against
Anwar, had been subpoenaed to take the stand against Anwar's
former tennis partner, who faces the death penalty for alleged
illegal possession of live bullets.

Anwar's trial was to resume later Thursday, however. The other
trial ended up being recessed until Jan. 25 to give a new lawyer
on the defense team time to make his preparations.

In Anwar's case, now in its 14th day in court, prosecution
witness Amir Junus, a former deputy chief of police intelligence,
was to continue his testimony.

Amir had testified Wednesday that Anwar, when in power, had
ordered him to use scare tactics to force retractions from Ummi
Hafilda Ali and Azizan Abu Bakar, both of whom had accused Anwar
of sexual misconduct.

The prosecution is trying to prove that Anwar abused his power
by ordering police to arrest and obtain retractions from people
who had written to authorities alleging his sexual misconduct.

Ummi, the sister of Anwar's former secretary, had accused
Anwar of having sex with her brother's wife. Azizan, the
politician's former chauffeur, claimed he was sodomized by his
boss.

Anwar, 51, has repeatedly denied the 10 corruption and sex
charges against him, saying they were fabricated to eliminate his
political challenge to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Anwar's lawyers said on Thursday they would ask a court to
free him on bail because he was not well. Attorney Sankaran Nair
said an application for bail had been filed in court and would be
heard on Saturday.

"Normally in cases like these, medical conditions are always a
basis to ask for bail," Nair told reporters.

Anwar's bail application has been turned down by a lower court
once and an appeal against it also failed. Trial Judge Augustine
Paul had rejected it, saying his lawyers weren't able to prove
that Anwar would not tamper with witnesses if released on bail.

Anwar suffers from a stomach disorder that causes intense
heartburn, his family members have said. Although he does not
appear to be in physical pain during his court appearances, his
lawyers say his condition has worsened.