updated news

A bomb scare at the Federal Court complex in Kuala Lumpur today forced the hearing of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's appeal against his corruption conviction to be postponed to tomorrow.

The hearing, scheduled for 9am, was postponed after the police received a call about a suspicious-looking bag at a nearby cafe.

The court complex was immediately evacuated and the police bomb squad was summoned.

Police personnel with sniffer dogs and metal detectors then combed the vicinity, attracting a huge crowd of curious onlookers.

A bomb disposal robot was also brought in but before it could be used, the police found the owner of the bag.

The owner, in his 30s and sporting an anti-ISA badge, was then instructed to open the bag. However, no explosives were found.

Federal CID Deputy Director Musa Hassan told reporters that the owner has been detained for questioning.

According to Musa the police received the call about the bag at about 8.45am.

Anwar unhappy

Meanwhile, Federal Court deputy registrar Azima Osman when met later said Anwar's hearing has been postponed to 9am tomorrow.

Anwar is appealing against his six-year jail sentence for corrupt practices. He is also serving a further nine-year jail term for sodomy.

According to an AFP report, the ex-deputy premier had earlier protested the postponement, saying the hearing could be carried out later in the day.

Despite his protests, Anwar, who was on a wheelchair and wearing a neck brace, was taken back to the Sungai Buloh prison.

Tomorrow's hearing will be heard before 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.

Anwar's counsel are Sulaiman Abdullah, Raja Aziz Addruse, Christopher Fernando, Sankara Nair, Zainur Zakaria, Gurbachan Singh, Pawancheek Merican, Kamar Ainiah Kamaruzaman and Zulkifli Noordin.

Representing the prosecution are Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail and senior deputy public prosecutors Azahar Mohamad, Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, Tun Majid Hamzah, Nordin Hassan and Shamsul Sulaiman.