PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s defence counsel today called for an adjournment to the lengthy sodomy trial against the politician to pry into allegations of a romantic affair between the complainant and a former prosecution team member.

In his submission today, Karpal Singh said the court should recall Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan and DPP Farah Azlina Latif to prove that they never had romantic relations, as claimed by the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

“The court should adjourn to enable (Saiful) to be recalled to court and Farah Azlina summoned pursuant to section 245 of the Criminal Procedure Code to ensure a just decision of the case,” he said.

He added that this was particularly important as the AG’s Chambers’ investigations into the affair were only made public on Nov 11, about a month after the defence closed its case.

“Farah Azlina was, until the affair became public, among the prosecution team and would have been privy to the investigation papers.

“This is turn would have created an opportunity for (Saiful) to... accordingly tailor his evidence to the detriment of the defence,” he said.

The outcome of the AG’s Chambers’ investigation was made known to Karpal, who is also Bukit Gelugor MP, in a written answer to Parliament by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Azizi.

Farah Azlina was removed from the case when allegations arose that she was having a romantic relationship with the complainant, who is also the star witness.

‘PM’s remarks constitute contempt’

Karpal also began his submission by calling for Prime Minister NajibAbdul Razak to be cited for contempt for having criticised the accused decision to give a statement from the dock.

NONE Anwar, who chose not to take the witness stand and as such was not cross-examined, was put down for this choice by Najib ( right in photo ) at the recent Umno general assembly.

“The PM's remarks constitute criminal contempt of court requiring this court to act suo moto (of its own motion) to issue a notice to show cause to the PM why he should not be cited for contempt,” he said.

One of three of Anwar’s counsel to submit their case today, Karpal cited case law which accepted statements made from the dock as evidence.

“As a statement from the dock constitutes evidence, this court should consider what weight to be attached to it together with the other evidence adduced by the defence,” he said.

Anwar had in his statement from the dock categorically denied the charge, which he claimed is part of a conspiracy to ruin his political career.

Presiding judge Zainal Abidin Mohd Diah will hear submissions from the prosecution tomorrow.

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