The Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today that then deputy premier Najib Abdul Razak told Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan that he ‘could not do anything” when the latter complained he was being sodomised by Anwar Ibrahim.

NONE Saiful, 25, the star prosecution witness in the ongoing sodomy trial, said he had met Najib at his private residence in Taman Duta, Kuala Lumpur, on June 24, 2008.

He told Najib ( left ) that Anwar, the de facto PKR leader, had sodomised him both in the country and while abroad.

“Najib told me, he could not do anything as this is a personal problem and involves Anwar. It also involves my future,” Saiful said under cross-examination.

Anwar's lead counsel Karpal Singh had asked whether Najib had given him any advice.

Saiful said Najib was sceptical and shocked to hear the complaint, but could not say if the deputy premier had lodged a report over this.

The former aide to Anwar said he had also informed SAC I Mohd Rodwan Yusof, Najib's former police aide, Mumtaz Jaafar and former PKR Youth chief Ezam Mohd Noor about his predicament.

“They did not say anything,” he claimed.

Karpal then asked if Saiful is aware that it is an offence for anyone to withhold information and not to make a police report if they know a crime has been committed.

azlan He pointed out that Section 13 of the Criminal Procedure Code requires an individual to give information on such matters on the commission or intention of a person to commit offence.

If such information is not disclosed, Karpal said, the offender can be punished under Section 202 of the Penal Code with six months’ jail.

Saiful replied he was not aware of this, leading solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden to ask the relevance of the question.

Karpal said that, as a DPP and senior officer in the attorney-general’s chambers, Mohd Yusof should know the relevance, especially since Section 13 has been amended to include Section 377.

This led to an exchange between the two, until Justice Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah intervened and ordered a recess.

‘Ezam and Mumtaz worried’

When the proceedings resumed, Saiful told the court that no one had advised him to make a police report.

ezam interview 310508 3 He said that, when he met Mumtaz and Ezam (left) , they had advised him against lodging a police report as they were worried about his future.

The view, he said, “was also shared by my uncle (Tuah), Rahimi (his friend who had worked at Anwar's office) and an ustaz ” whom he had consulted.

Saiful said the ustaz , whom he called ‘Atuk’, passed away three months ago. This was met with laughter from the public gallery.

The hearing resumes tomorrow.