International Herald Tribune - KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has provided an alibi to police to prove he did not sodomize a male aide but will not give a DNA sample for fear it could be manipulated to frame him, his lawyer said Friday.
DNA evidence was fabricated when Anwar was similarly accused of sodomy 10 years ago, and he does not trust the police not to do it again, his lawyer, Sivarasa Rasiah, said.
The new sodomy accusation against Anwar comes as the government is faced with growing public anger with the ruling coalition, which suffered election losses in March to a resurgent opposition. Anwar has vowed to build on that victory and topple the government in September.
He was arrested on Wednesday and interrogated for hours over the accusation by a young male aide who claimed to be a victim of sodomy. Anwar was released Thursday on bail, but remains a suspect in the case.
Sodomy, even between consenting adults, is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
During the interrogation Anwar gave “full details” of his alibi, Sivarasa said.
“We have given it in full to the police. We know that they know everything that has to be known,” he said, refusing to elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation.
He said Anwar allowed himself to be stripped during a medical examination and even had his body parts measured. But he drew the line at giving a DNA swab, which he is not legally bound to do.
“Anwar has even more reason to believe of the probability that DNA evidence will be fabricated again,” Sivarasa said. He suggested if Anwar was to give a sample, it could be planted on the accuser, who is living under police supervision.
The accusation by the 23-year-old aide was a political bombshell, dealing a severe blow to Anwar’s resurgent three-party opposition alliance that won an unprecedented 82 seats in the 222-member Parliament in the March 8 elections.
The result reduced the ruling National Front coalition’s strength to 140 seats, down from the two-thirds majority it enjoyed for the last 41 years. Anwar now aims to engineer defections from the National Front to take over the government by mid-September.
He has dismissed the sodomy accusation as a political plot to stop him from toppling the government. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s ministers have denied any conspiracy against Anwar.
On Thursday, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar challenged Anwar to give a DNA swab if he wants the truth to be known.
“What is he afraid of? He can even have his own doctor present when the tests are carried out,” he said.
Anwar claims police fabricated evidence against him in the 1998 case when he was accused of having sex with his family driver. Anwar says he was framed by then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad during a power struggle.
Malaysia’s Supreme Court eventually overturned the sodomy conviction against Anwar, but by then he had served six years in prison on a related abuse of power charge. He was freed in 2004 and revived his political career as an opposition leader.
Sivarasa said Anwar would consider giving a DNA sample if it can be “independently verified” that all procedures are “done professionally and without any interference from the police.”
He also questioned why the police report citing the aide has not been made public and “remains shrouded in secrecy.”
Once bitten twice shy!It was right for DSAI not to accede to the DNA test knowing very well that another fabrication of evidence could be in the works to his detriment!
Today at juma lecturers and colleagues stood for chit-chats after the prayer, Oh! it was interesting: One lawyer commented; wait it just started, another begged , please don’t tell me there’s more to come; another said don’t lose faith we Muslims believe GOD will see the truth through ,I contested but how much truth are we closer too, No1. concur that whenever Gov politician opens their trap the pit is dug further-in conclusion we parted with the belief that nothing surprises us any more and the rage of the Malay is unprecedented in all its history; only the Japanese occupation vexed us this much. Even mat Rampit have the dignity to cross over before the MPs who seems to be awaiting some kind of signal from the heavens to muster some courage of national urgency.
After 6 long years in captivity, DSAI was released and cleared of all charges. Why didn’t DSAI charge the govt. for wrongful detention? Probably he fears that further fabrication would be planted and DSAI would have left things alone to build his career. But sad to say, when the BN saw that he is becoming a threat to their power status, they decided to do away with him. Please DSAI do not give your DNA. You never know like you never knew that Saiful would betray your trust. Why is Saiful not charged along with you? Why is he given police protection even though he is a guilty party as well? Think! Think! Think!!!
We, RAKYAT would like to ask syed hamid albar, the HOME MINISTER, WHY so afraid in revealing the saiful REPORT to the RAKYAT, if there is nothing to hide? We, RAKYAT want TOTAL TRANSPERANCY otherwise we, RKYAT consider as CONSPIRACY!
This controversy regarding DNA is a little confusing to me at the moment. Why can’t the DNA from 1998 be used? After all, the results from 1998 will still be valid and can be used for comparison with the sample from the alleged victim. I’m sure the same Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms(RFLP) can be used if kept in record and a new test need not be done. If the RFLP’s from 1998 don’t match the present sample, that should be an exoneration. Furthermore as I understand it, DNA samples can be kept from years, heck half the world knows that, thanks to jurassic park. Unless there is some reason to suspect that the 1998 sampling was flawed or someone has lost the actual films from 1998. If they really insist on DNA tests, the samples should be collected by an impartial 3rd party preferably from abroad.
If one watches ‘crime and investigation’ network and see how they use even a tiny speck of dry, old blood of a few years to extract DNA, one does not need to be a genius to understand the whole procedure. So DSAI you do not need to give fresh blood or blood products for DNA extractions in this new case. Stay to your guns! Be adamant about this issue. You have cooperated well with the police, but you have yet to see the police report made against you. There is something very, very fishy and sinister here
DSAI, I am 100% sure that the second accusation of sodomy against you is a conspiracy of the highest order by your enemies to make sure that you can never be the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Tun Mahathir was reported to have said this and your enemies want to make sure that what Mahathir said will turn into a reality. Your enemies will make you guilty by all means to end your political career, perhaps, only stop at murdering.
Insha Allah, you will be the PM of Malaysia and I would love to see that Mahathir will live long enough to see that happens to his horror.
I am from Negeri Sembilan. There were two political murders in Negeri Sembilan, you may recall. One, the murder of Dato’ Taha Talib of Gemenceh by Dato’ Mokhtar Hashim from Rembau and second, the murder of one Chinese towkey in the official resident of Menteri Besar, Mansor Othman. What I am saying is UMNO leaders are capable of committing heinous crimes. You got to really look after your safety. Don’t let any stone unturned when safety is concerned.
Perhaps, better be reminded that don’t ever fall into the same trap twice and feel sorry later. This the advice of our Propeht PBUH. Take it without question.
New DNA? What DNA? Don’t ever give. They have the old one. I read reports that FBI is collecting DNA samples to keep. It means DNA can be kept for a long time. Where this AAB got the idea that your DNA already in the hand of authority is old? When rakyat said that this AAB is stupid, he might get angry. But look at what kind of stupid statement he made.
Rakyat Malaysia, this beloved country of ours is badly in need of a new leadership.
Najib? Forget about him. He once said that Madrasahs in Malaysia are the factories of terrorists, he means Islamic terrororists. I ask the Muslims of Malaysia: Is it this kind of leader we want to rule our country?
Pemimpin UMNO/kerajaan yang ada sekarang cukup jahat dalam sejarah negara. Mereka rangka tuduhan untuk halang kemaraan Anwar.
Mereka tau, nasib UMNO/BN takkan lama. Helah daya mereka usahakan untuk membaham segala khazanah negara selagi boleh sebelum mereka dijatuhkan. Paling tidak pun sehingga PRU13.
Itu sebab 5 koridor mahu disegerakan.
Ingat Putrajaya?
Mereka berjaya makan besar dengan peruntukan Petronas RM5 bilion setahun untuk tempoh 10 tahun pembinaan Putrajaya. Semua main-con, sub-con. 2nd and 3rd sub-con kaya-raya joli katak dengan duit yang terlalu banyak.
Idea ni mereka nak gunakan pula di semua koridor tu; untuk makan besar lagi sebab jumlah kesemuanya RM750bilion dalam tempoh 5-10 tahun ini.
Kemudian jangan lupa macam mana mereka makan hasil minyak Petronas dengan pelbagai cara; yang tidak diketahui ramai. Contohnya, menggunakan kuota Brunei untuk dijual ke pihak lain di luar negara. Sedangkan minyak itu datang dari negara ini - yang Petronas pun turut pejam mata.
Kes ni tak berleluasa, tapi ada la dalam 5-6 kes; satu hari mereka celok 50-60ribu tong. Setiap tong boleh buat duit USD2-3 setiap satu. Ini tak termasuk jumlah 650,000 tong yang Petronas laporkan (pasaran gelap, boleh dikatakan).
Ini ikanlepu pernah terlibat dulu, tapi tak berjaya sebab kabel kurang besar.
Inilah kerja mereka yang ada kuasa kat atas sana - sapu aje isi tembolok biar pecah.
how can there be sodomy? Imagine the court proceedings:
(follows a hypothetical, “thought experiment”):
Anwar: Saiful, nice to see you, kindly drop your pants.
Saiful: Ummm OK.
Anwar: Would You please drop your underwear also…
Saiful: OK. …you have a nice apartment…
Anwar: thank you.
Saiful: Eh! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!
Can u imagine the farce of this situation??? OF course not.because it is a farce. Shame on politics for bringing this farce to people. There are no improvements in public transportation…oh no..KTM is horrible. But we have this farce instead!
Tuduhan terhadap DSAI tidak lain tidak bukan, hanyalah permainan politik untuk menghancurkan masa depan politik DSAI. Sebelum PRU12, ramai pemimpin UMNO yang angkuh dan ‘overconfident’ yang kejahatan dan dosa2 mereka akan terus terlindung. Ada pemimpin yang mengatakan yang DSAI akan terus lenyap dari persada politik negara. Mereka rasa apa yang telah mereka lakukan kepada DSAI 10 tahun dulu sudah cukup untuk menjadikan beliau ‘tidak releven’ - mana mungkin!! Rakyat tidak sebodoh yang mereka sangkakan. Malah rakyat telah memberikan peringatan jelas yang angin perubahan bakal tiba. Masyarakat antarabangsa juga turut bergembira dengan kembalinya DSAI.
Kerajaan BN hari ini tahu yang mereka semakin kesuntukan masa untuk memastikan yang kuasa mereka tidak terlepas. Mereka juga sedar bahawa bila kuasa beralih tangan, bila DSAI dan PK menerajui negara, maka ke’bangsatan’ mereka pasti akan terbongkar. Mereka merasakan yang DSAI perlu dijahanamkan, walau macam mana cara sekalipun!
Maka berpakatlah mereka2 yang berdosa. Skrip lama ingin dimainkan semula. Pelakon2 asal kini lebih berkuasa - malah kuasa diberikan oleh pemerintah atas ‘jasa’ mereka MENGADA-ADAKAN SESUATU YANG TIADA dalam wayang yang bertama 10 tahun lalu. Yang sedihnya - mereka masih sangkakan yang rakyat ini bodoh belaka!
Kepada pemimpin2 BN, hentikan lah sandiwara ini. Ingatlah - kebenaran pasti akan menang akhirnya.
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ENGLISH
Accusations against Anwar is none other then just a political ploy to ruin Anwar’s political future. Before the 12th GE, many UMNO leaders are very arrogent and overconfident that their sins will always be kept away. A few have said that Anwar will be forgotten and fade away from the national political scene. A few felt that what they have done to Anwar 10 years ago is sufficient to made him irrelevent - they are badly mistaken!! The people are not as stupid as they think. In fact, the people have voiced out clear massage that the wind of change is coming. The international community also celebrates Anwar’s comeback.
The BN government knows that they are running out of time to ensure that their power are not lost. They know that when they lose their powers, when Anwar and PK is in power, all their sins will be revealed. They feel that Anwar must be distroyed by any means possible.
So, those in sins conspired. They intend to play the old script. Actors in the original play are now more powerful. In fact, their powers was bestowed upon them by the government for their ’success’ of making SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING in the original play 10 years ago. The sad thing is - they still think that the people are stupid!
To BN leaders, please stop all these nonsense. Remember - the truth will prevail eventually!!