The police were worried that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim would not show up at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters by 2pm and had therefore decided to arrest him.

police pc on anwar ibrahim 140807 mohd bakri mohd zinin Star Online quoted Federal CID director Bakri Zinin as saying that Anwar was supposed to have gone directly to the police headquarters immediately after giving his statement to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) in Putrajaya.

"However, we were informed that after he left the ACA headquarters in Putrajaya, he had changed his route and was heading back to his house in (Bukit) Segambut.

"He was arrested as we had reason to believe he was not going to show up. We wish to point out that Anwar had initially agreed to meet us on Monday but failed to keep his appointment."

Given an ultimatum yesterday

The politician had refused to go on Monday claiming that the police acted unprofessionally by 'intimidating and harassing' his staff and family while attempting to serve an order under Section 111 of the Criminal Procedure Code on Sunday.

anwar ibrahim aca report before arrest 160708 04 Yesterday, the police gave Anwar an ultimatum to be present at the police headquarters at 2pm or face the possibility of arrest. The PKR leader agreed to show up.

However, Anwar was arrested at about 12.55pm when he was on his way back to his house from Putrajaya. He is now being held at the police headquarters.

On June 28, Anwar’s 23-year-old former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan filed a police report accusing the politician of sodomising him.

The politician went to the ACA headquarters this morning for an interview concerning his police report alleging fabrication of evidence regarding his 'black eye' incident in 1999.

In the July 1 police report , Anwar accused police chief Musa Hassan and attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail of fabricating evidence in his trials 10 years ago.

Followed procedure

Meanwhile, Bakri told a press conference at the Bukit Aman police headquarters this evening that the police followed proper procedure in arresting Anwar.

Reading from a prepared text, the CID chief said the arrest was done professionally by Bukit Aman officers and there was no breach of the operating guidelines. [See full statement]

He stressed that safety is of utmost concern in all operations and the police adheres to its procedure and guidelines.

Bakri said the police did not want to arrest Anwar at his house because they wanted to avoid a 'commotion'.

"Anwar is currently helping us in a sodomy case that was reported by his (former) aide. He has been allowed access to a lawyer of his choice as well as family members."

He also gave an assurance that Anwar is safe under police custody.

Bakri refused to take questions and the press conference ended in slightly more than a minute.

Normal practice

In a related development, inspector-general of police Musa Hassan said the arrest was part of a criminal investigation and his team had followed the legal process.

musa hassan He said it was normal practice for all parties including Anwar, as accused persons to come forward to give their statements to enable police to conduct investigations fairly.

"The police know what they are doing and are only carrying out their duties in investigating this case," he told reporters.

He also advised Anwar’s supporters not to cause any disturbances following this latest development.

"I hope they will not do anything that is against the law. Police will not hesitate to act against those who do," he said.

CID chief Mohd Bakri Zinin's full statement

PHOTO GALLERY - From ACA to IPK