Former federal CID chief Mat Zain Ibrahim, who led a probe on Anwar Ibrahim's ‘black eye' assault in 1998, is demanding that the government clear him of accusations that he fabricated evidence during the investigations.

In a legal letter to solicitor-general Idrus Harun today, Mat Zain sought for a public declaration that he was innocent of any wrongdoings in the case.

anwar ibrahim black eye 080206 His repeated appeal to MACC came following early this year when the commission cleared attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail and police chief Musa Hassan, who were accused of being involved in criminal wrongdoings in the ‘black eye' case.

Mat Zain added that he had submitted evidence of his innocence as well as evidence on the real culprits to the relevant authorities in April and May.

Mat Zain is threatening legal action in 14 days if Idrus fails to take action.

His letter of demand to Idrus came four weeks before Anwar's second sodomy trial which will resume next month.

Potential ‘victim of interested parties'

Mat Zain's appeals seemed to had fallen on deaf ears as he suspected that several 'powerful hidden hands' wanted to destroy his credibility.

And he said their reason for doing so was "to paralyse my capabilities and prevent me from giving evidence against AG Abdul Gani and inspector-general of police Musa for fabricating evidence in the 'black-eye' case."

His letter of demand to Idrus came three weeks before Anwar's second sodomy trial which will resume next month.

On July 7 last year, Anwar filed a police report accusing Gani, Musa and one Dr Abdul Rahman Yusof and Mat Zain of falsifying a medical report on his ‘black eye'case.

The matter was also investigated by the then Anti-Corruption Agency (now renamed Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency).

Following a police report on July 1 last year, the then Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) began probing Anwar's allegations that Abdul Gani, Musa, Abdul Rahman and Mat Zain had tampered with evidence in the ‘black eye' case.

Mat Zain, who retired in 2001, was the little known investigating officer into Anwar's complaint that he was assaulted during police custody following the latter's sacking in 1998, until Anwar's police report.

The authorities later cleared Musa and Gani of the allegations, but status of Mat Zain and Abdul Rahman remains uncertain. This was again announced by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz in Parliament on March 11, this year.

Mat Zain's lawyer Zairus Effendi Suhaimi, in the letter of demand, argued that the since the authorities had cleared only Musa and Gani, thus the remaining two individuals are indirectly implicated.

"The criminal liabilities have been shifted to Dr Abdul Rahman and Mat Zain, after the involvement of Abdul Gani and Musa were cleared," read the document, which as sent to the press today.

Mat Zain's lawyers said that the present situation exposes their client to civil and criminal proceedings, or "being a victim of interested parties".