Warrant issued for Anwar's arrest: lawyer
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
MALAYSIAN opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim faces imminent arrest over a former aide's accusations of sodomy - the same charge he was jailed for more than a decade ago - his lawyer said yesterday.
Sankara Nair said the investigating officer told him a warrant had been issued for Anwar's arrest, and that he could be taken into custody when he appears at Kuala Lumpur police headquarters for questioning today.
"But I don't discount him being arrested earlier. It's a matter of execution," he told a press conference.
"After speaking to the investigating officer, I think Anwar will be arrested under the Sodomy Act," he said, adding that a team of lawyers was on standby to apply for bail if necessary.
Sodomy, is illegal in predominantly Muslim Malaysia and carries a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said police were seeking a sample of Anwar's DNA as they investigated accusations of sexual assault levelled by 23-year-old Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan who was a volunteer in Anwar's office.
"Our intention is to get to the truth, we have taken DNA (from Mohamad Saiful) so we need to take Anwar's DNA also," Syed Hamid told reporters.
Anwar's Keadilan party, which leads the opposition alliance, warned its supporters would hold mass demonstrations if their leader is taken into custody.AFP
Sankara Nair said the investigating officer told him a warrant had been issued for Anwar's arrest, and that he could be taken into custody when he appears at Kuala Lumpur police headquarters for questioning today.
"But I don't discount him being arrested earlier. It's a matter of execution," he told a press conference.
"After speaking to the investigating officer, I think Anwar will be arrested under the Sodomy Act," he said, adding that a team of lawyers was on standby to apply for bail if necessary.
Sodomy, is illegal in predominantly Muslim Malaysia and carries a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said police were seeking a sample of Anwar's DNA as they investigated accusations of sexual assault levelled by 23-year-old Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan who was a volunteer in Anwar's office.
"Our intention is to get to the truth, we have taken DNA (from Mohamad Saiful) so we need to take Anwar's DNA also," Syed Hamid told reporters.
Anwar's Keadilan party, which leads the opposition alliance, warned its supporters would hold mass demonstrations if their leader is taken into custody.AFP
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