Federal Court Dismisses Anwar's Bid To Set Aside Sodomy Conviction

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- The Federal Court Wednesday dismissed Anwar Ibrahim's final bid to set aside his sodomy conviction and five-year jail sentence for sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan. Chief Judge of Malaya Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, who chaired a five-member panel, in his decision held that Anwar's application for review had no merit, that it was not a fit and proper case to be reviewed by the court. He also said the court found no grounds to support Anwar's allegation that the Prime Minister's Office had interfered with the previous panel's decision to uphold his conviction and jail term. With Wednesday's ruling, Anwar will remain in Sungai Buloh Prison to serve the duration of his five-year jail term. Anwar, 69, had filed a review application seeking to invoke Rule 137 of the Rules of the Federal Court 1995 and review the decision earlier made by a five-member panel led by Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria. Alternatively, he wanted the Federal Court to re-hear his appeal on its merits. Anwar is serving a five-year jail term in Sungai Buloh Prison after the Federal Court on Feb 10, 2015, upheld his conviction and sentence imposed by the Court of Appeal on March 7, 2014. On Jan 9, 2012, the High Court acquitted and discharged Anwar of the charge. However, the Court of Appeal overturned the ruling and convicted Anwar after allowing the prosecution's appeal. Anwar committed the offence at Unit 11-5-1 of Desa Damansara Condominium in Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur between 3.10pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008. -- BERNAMA