Sodomy complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan had described Anwar Ibrahim as a pemimpin munafik (a hypocritical leader) and said he hated the PKR de facto leader, the much-hyped ‘mystery witness' of the defence told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

NONE The witness, Mohd Najwan Halimi ( left ), also questioned Saiful's political allegiance. He described his former university mate as a staunch BN supporter who had taken photos with many BN leaders. This was also stated in Saiful's Friendster account.

Najwan, who was a mechanical engineering student with Saiful at Universiti Tenaga Nasional, said Saiful was a person who likes publicity and attention.

"He (Saiful) was the university's Student Leaders Council deputy president. He studied electrical engineering while I studied mechanical (engineering).

"He lived next to my room (in the dormitory) and at times, we ate together," he said.

Najwan said he had worked with Saiful during the Baktisiswa programme at the end of February 2008.

"Through my interactions with him (Saiful) I knew him to be a supporter of BN, and that he hated Anwar Ibrahim. He even posted a photo of Anwar with the caption pemimpin munafik (a hypocritical leader)."

"Saiful told me he hated Anwar and reminded us that we should support the ruling party. He never idolised Anwar," the witness said when answering questions from defence lawyer Sankara Nair.

Najwan's testimony is in contradiction with the evidence given by Saiful, the star prosecution witness, who had testified that he idolised Anwar.

Among the ministers who had posed for photographs with Saiful were former home minister Syed Hamid Albar, current International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed and former youth and sports minister Azalina Othman Said.

Saiful also has a photo of him with Najib Abdul Razak’s former aide, Khairil Anas Jusoh.

All these were posted on Saiful’s Friendster account.

Najwan, who is the sixth defence witness, said in February 2008, he found it surprising to find Saiful at an opposition ceramah .

“I asked Saiful why was he there and he replied that he just wanted to tag along.

“I found it shocking when I got to know that Saiful was working in Anwar’s office. I also emailed Anwar warning him as Saiful is known as a BN supporter.”

azlan Najwan said that, even though Saiful worked with Anwar, his status in Friendster as a BN supporter and the offending caption on the PKR politician as a hypocritical leader remained.

Cross-examined by Solicitor-General II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, Najwan, who now works with the Selangor Economic Department, denied suggestions that he is close to Saiful.

“We were just friends who used to go out and have meals together.”

Quizzed by Yusof, Najwan denied he was envious of Saiful or jealous that he had got a job in Anwar’s office.

“Maybe they think he is qualified and I am not,” he replied.

Najwan admitted that, prior to working with the Selangor government, he had worked with the Transport Ministry, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and for Seri Setia assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

He also conceded, when asked by Yusof, that it was not strange for student leaders to pose for  pictures with ministers.

Replying to the only question from Sankara during re-examination, Najwan said what he described about Saiful was based on his experience with his former college mate.

“However, Saiful has now locked me out of his Friendster account,” he added.

Laboratory certification

Earlier, the Chemistry Department's Forensic Division director Lim Kong Boon gave evidence on the certification and accreditation of the laboratory.

Replying to questions from Ramkarpal Singh, Lim said the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors' Laboratory Accreditation Board has granted the Chemistry Department laboratory three extensions to rise from a premier to an international status certification.

Lim, who had also testified in the Sodomy I trial, said the extension will expire on Oct 18, 2011.

“We obtained the premier status in 2005,” he said.

Lim added that international status was better than the ISO17025 certification, which the laboratory had yet to attain.

The hearing continues on Thursday, with Dutch spine specialist Dr Thomas Hoogland taking the stand. Hoogland had operated on Anwar's back in 2004.

Ex-collegemate says Saiful 'hated Anwar'

PM must appear in court or lose credibility