Government-appointed prosecutor Muhammad Shafee Abdullah aims to establish a romantic link between Anwar Ibrahim and his former aide of four months Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

In his attempt to prove that Saiful is a credible witness, the prosecution attempted to show the court that the complainant and defendant were in a relationship.

Shafee noted that there was a "ring of truth" to Saiful's testimony.

Despite being a university dropout, Shafee told the court, Saiful was allowed to tag along with Anwar even during overseas trips, such as to Singapore and Hong Kong.

This, he added, was not the case with Anwar's other aides.

"Saiful was given an allowance of US$1,000 in Singapore and an allowance when in Hong Kong.

"Anwar also gave him a (high-end) Brioni suit, which even I do not have.

"Why should Anwar maintain such a relationship (with Saiful)," he asked when submitting before the five-member Federal Court panel led by Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria.

In describing the casual manner of the sexual act at the condominium, where Saiful was hesitant, Shafee said Anwar was not an ordinary appellant as he is charismatic, influential and dominant.

"He (Anwar) is capable of influencing the young boy," he added.

After the act (at the Desa Damansara condominium), Anwar had reminded Saiful of his sins and not to ignore his prayers.

"This shows they were cordial and this shows ‘the ring of truth’. Saiful also admitted that he was afraid of Anwar," said Shafee.

He also said Anwar’s former lead counsel, the late Karpal Singh, had put it to Saiful numerous times that the sodomy incident did not happen, but the prosecution's star witness maintained otherwise.

No tampering of evidence

Shafee also argued that it was not possible for the investigating officer DSP Jude Blacious Pereira to tamper with the samples.

He said Saiful gave his samples at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) on June 28, 2008, and the samples were given to the Chemistry Department two days later.

The senior lawyer, who is closely linked to Umno, said the samples from Anwar (taken from the mineral water bottle, white ‘Good morning’ towel and toothbrush) were retrieved from the opposition leader's police lock-up cell on July 17.

Anwar had stayed overnight at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters’ lock-up after he was arrested while heading to his Bukit Segambut home.

The opposition leader was taken to HKL for a physical examination to be done, and for a sample of his DNA to be extracted, but he refused to cooperate to give his DNA.

Shafee said Saiful's samples were handled by chemist Dr Seah Lay Hong. The samples were handed to her on June 30, 2008, while Anwar's came under the care of chemist Nor Aidora Saedon on July 17, 2008.

"How could the IO (investigating officer) obtain fresh semen and spermatozoa samples from Anwar on those different dates.

“How do you get fresh semen of the accused about 60 hours later from the complainant?" Shafee asked.  

The prosecutor further said that the police officer did not tamper with the samples taken from Saiful as the HKL seal had remained intact.

Shafee said Jude merely cut open the big transparent plastic bag holding all of Saiful's samples, re-labelled them and put them in separate envelopes.

Furthermore, HKL doctor Dr Siew Sheue Feng had signed all the samples and Saiful counter-signed them, and this, the prosecutor pointed out, were the extra-precautionary measures taken.

Shafee also submitted that it was not possible for Anwar to claim political conspiracy and blame Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan and the judiciary.

"However, how do you explain Anwar's semen in the intimate part of Saiful," he asked.

The hearing will resume on Monday, with Shafee continuing with his submission.

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