Former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahims lawyers today kicked off his Federal Court appeal against corruption by discrediting two witnesses used against him during his 1998 trial.

Anwars lead counsel Raja Aziz Addruse told a three-member panel that prosecution witnesses Mohd Said Awang and Amir Junus, both former Special Branch chiefs, were untenable witnesses as they presented contradictory statements.

During Anwars trial, Said and Amir had told Kuala Lumpur High Court judge S Augustine Paul that they coerced Ummi Hafilda Ali and Azizan Abu Bakar to retract allegations of sexual misconduct against Anwar upon the former deputy premiers orders in August 1997.

However, according to Raja Aziz, Said and Amir at the same time wrote letters to the prime minister that Anwar was not guilty of any sexual misconduct.

It was never admitted [by Anwar] either that a request or directions were ever given to Said or Amir.

The fact that evidence was given under oath matters little if it can be proven that the evidence cannot be accepted. There must be a certain evidence that justifies a criminal conviction, Raja Aziz added.

Raja Aziz also said Anwar could not have directed both the Special Branch officers to carry out such an operation on both Ummi and Azizan.

Was the deputy prime minister then in the position to give orders to the two officers? He must first be in charge of that portfolio which is that of the Home Minister, therefore he was not in a position to use his office even if to enquire, Raja Aziz said.

Final recourse

Anwar is now serving a six-year jail sentence in Sungai Buloh for the offence charged. The Federal Court is Anwars final recourse after the Appellate Court overturned his appeal.

He is also serving a nine-year term after being found guilty of sodomy. A date has not been fixed to hear the appeal.

Owing to his persistent back pain, Anwar appeared in court in a wheelchair wearing a neck brace today.

Also at his trial were PAS president Fadzil Noor, his youth chief Mahfuz Omar, PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali and DAPs international secretary Teresa Kok.

The court room was also packed with Keadilan supporters who stood up when Anwar appeared in court.

About 100 supporters gathered outside, chanting reformasi when Anwar and prison officials left the Federal Court building.

Raja Aziz is assisted by Gurbachan Singh, Sankara Nair, Sulaiman Abdullah, Chris Fernando, Zainur Zakaria and Pawancheek Merican.

The prosecution is led by Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail and Azahar Mohamad.

The court panel consists of Chief Justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah, Chief Judge of the High Courts of Sabah and Sarawak Steve Shim Lip Kiong and Federal Court judge Haidar Mohd Noor.

The four-day trial continues tomorrow at 9am.