Show sodomy appeal live, Azmin tells Najib
PKR CONGRESS PKR deputy president Azmin Ali wants a live telecast of party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy appeal in the Federal Court.
He said only then could the rakyat evaluate the sodomy accusation against Anwar, which he claimed was politically motivated.
PKR CONGRESS PKR deputy president Azmin Ali wants a live telecast of party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy appeal in the Federal Court.
He said only then could the rakyat evaluate the sodomy accusation against Anwar, which he claimed was politically motivated.
"If the prime minister is honest, he should allow it to be televised live.
"Let the rakyat be the judge and see the process of the appeal," Azmin said to loud applause in his winding-up speech on the last day of 10th National PKR Congress.
The Court of Appeal on March 7 found Anwar guilty of sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan and the Federal Court appeal is Anwar's last stand between freedom and incarceration.
Azmin also laid out two other conditions which he said Najib should fulfil if the PM was sincere about his reform efforts, including to ensure that the judiciary is fair.
He said Najib should have Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who is an Umno member, dropped as chief prosecutor in Anwar's sodomy appeal case.
"Are there no other public prosecutors in the country?
"Why appoint an Umno lawyer? It means this is a political case (to) punish us (the opposition)," said Azmin.
'Politcally motivated'
He added the charging of lawyer N Surendran, who is handling Anwar's case, with sedition should likewise be addressed alleging it is politically motivated.
Surendran was charged for sedition on Aug 19 for criticising the Court of Appeal's decision which convicted Anwar for sodomy.
Anwar is seeking to overturn his conviction and his appeal at the Federal Court is set on Oct 28 and 29.
However, during the appeal the prosecution will in turn be seeking a heavier sentence above the five years meted to Anwar.
Anwar remains a free man for now as he was granted bail pending the appeal.
Anwar, 67, was on Jan 9, 2012 cleared of sodomising his former aide at Desa Damansara Condominium, Bukit Damansara on June 26, 2008.
However the decision was later overturned by the Court of Appeal.
According to one of Anwar's lawyers Ramkarpal Singh, a bid to remove Shafee Abdullah from the prosecution will be heard on Oct 14.
This is the third time Anwar is attempting to remove the veteran lawyer who was specially hired by the Attorney-General's Chambers for the case instead of using one of its own public prosecutors.
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Show sodomy appeal live, Azmin tells Najib
