Shafee to cite Anwar for contempt
Government-appointed prosecutor Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said he has been told to pursue citing opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for contempt after the Sodomy II appeal verdict.
Government-appointed prosecutor Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said he had been told to pursue citing opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for contempt, after the Sodomy II appeal verdict.
Shafee said he had received instructions from Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail to do this, he informed the five-member bench led by Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria, as proceedings started today.
He cited two articles, one by Malaysiakini and the other by The Malay Mail Online on this where Anwar had said that if Shafee retired, then the court would not convict him.
The senior lawyer cited the last two paragraphs of the Malaysiakini report titled ‘Go back to law school’ .
However, he did not read out The Malay Mail Online report.
Shafee claimed that Anwar had previously scandalised the High Court in Kuala Lumpur with what he said and now, he was scandalising the Federal Court by saying this.
Following this, he applied for the court to cite Anwar for contempt.
This resulted in Anwar's lawyer Gopal Sri Ram asking if the court wanted the matter addressed now.
However, Justice Arifin ordered the hearing into the appeal to proceed.
Move after verdict
Shafee told reporters outside court that he would ask the judiciary to move for contempt after the verdict has been delivered in the Sodomy II appeal.
"We have to stop Anwar from making stupid statements," he said.
On Anwar asking him to go back to law school, Shafee said it was Anwar’s right to say so as long as it is not defamatory.
"(But) when he attacked the court (when Anwar said court will not convict him if he retires from politics), it is as if he is saying that the court, the government as well as the prosecution are in cahoots.
“It is as if he is saying that the court is unfair and has no integrity,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anwar told reporters outside court that he would consult with his lawyers.
"One by one, lah. Why does the prosecution want to charge me for the fourth time?" he asked.
Related stories
Gopal: No reason for Dr Osman to side with Anwar
Defence unfurls 'carpet' over prosecution's case
Pepper spray goes off as Anwar exits court
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.