Malaysian court rejects ex-deputy's appeal
Malaysia’s highest court today rejected former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal against his conviction and six-year prison term for corruption.
The three-judge panel of the Federal Court ruled unanimously against Anwar, who has long claimed that he was the victim of trumped-up charges to prevent him from challenging Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad for power.
‘‘We have reached a unanimous decision in the appeal,’’ Chief Justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah told the packed courtroom. ‘‘We therefore dismiss the appeal.’’
Anwar rose from his wheelchair and delivered a five-minute tirade against the judges and Mahathir, the former mentor who fired him in 1998 and touched off the country’s biggest political crisis in decades.
‘‘The judiciary has been emasculated and bludgeoned into submission at the hands of Dr Mahathir,’’ Anwar said. ‘‘I wish Dr Mahathir good luck. He has nothing left to destroy.’’
About 30 supporters in the courtroom shouted ‘‘Allah Akbar!’’ or ‘‘God is Great!’’
The refrain was picked up by about 300 supporters outside. They shouted the ‘‘Reformasi!’’ slogan for political change that marked Anwar’s failed challenge to Mahathir, one of Asia’s longest-serving leaders, four years ago.
Earlier, riot police backed by water cannon seized posters and arrested a man who was handing out leaflets alleging that the chief justice had decided to reject the appeal to further his career.
‘‘It’s a sad day,’’ said veteran opposition leader Lim Kit Siang. ‘‘We still have a long way to go to restore a truly independent judiciary and a just rule of law.’’
The corruption case hinged on whether Anwar abused his power in 1997 to get police to obtain forced retractions from people who accused him of sodomy and adultery.
Even if the corruption conviction had been overturned, Anwar would still have faced nine years in prison for a separate sodomy conviction. Appeals in that case have barely begun.
Whenever he leaves prison, he will be banned from politics for five more years.
Anwar appeared in court in a wheelchair and neck brace for injuries he says he suffered during a beating by the national police chief after his arrest in September 1998, when he led tens of thousands of people in protests demanding Mahathir step down.
The charismatic Anwar had earlier been fired by Mahathir for alleged sexual impropriety and abuse of power in a power struggle that came to a head over policy differences during the Asian economic crisis.
Anwar claims that his convictions were orchestrated by Mahathir and carried out by a compliant judiciary. The government denies it.
The trials were widely condemned as unfair - key witnesses repeatedly changed their testimony and one policeman acknowledged he would lie under oath if ordered - and Washington considers Anwar a political prisoner.
Anwar’s cause has waned. The opposition, led by Islamic fundamentalists with whom he enjoys close relations, made electoral gains in 1999 but are losing popularity amid worries over their plans to declare this moderate Southeast Asian country a hardline Islamic state.
Mahathir, 76, in power since 1981, has regained his strength. The economy has recovered and criticism over the Anwar case has been muted by praise since Sept 11 for his tough line against terrorism.
Mahathir tearfully declared his intention to resign last month. Under appeals by supporters, he agreed to stay and will hand power in October next year to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who succeeded Anwar as his deputy.
