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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Malaysia court hears Anwar sodomy final appeal | Malaysia court hears Anwar sodomy final appeal |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A court in Malaysia is hearing a final appeal filed by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim against his sodomy conviction. | A court in Malaysia is hearing a final appeal filed by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim against his sodomy conviction. |
| Mr Anwar was accused of sodomising a male aide in 2008. Sodomy is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia, but very few people are ever prosecuted. | Mr Anwar was accused of sodomising a male aide in 2008. Sodomy is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia, but very few people are ever prosecuted. |
| The popular politician was sentenced to five years in jail in March after an earlier acquittal was overturned. | The popular politician was sentenced to five years in jail in March after an earlier acquittal was overturned. |
| He says the case is a move by the ruling coalition to prevent him from participating in politics. | He says the case is a move by the ruling coalition to prevent him from participating in politics. |
| The BBC's Malaysia correspondent Jennifer Pak says hundreds of Mr Anwar's supporters have gathered in front of the court house, in the administrative capital Putrajaya to protest, calling for justice. | |
| Mr Anwar is widely seen as the only man who can break the governing coalition's dominance in Malaysia, our correspondent reports. | |
| 'Blatant attempt' | |
| On Wednesday, before proceedings began Mr Anwar said if there was "judicial independence in the country" he would be freed, reported the Associated Press. | |
| If found guilty, the 67-year-old would face prison and would be barred from running for office for five years from the day he is released from jail. | |
| That would mean he would be unable to contest the next general election, which must be held by 2018. | That would mean he would be unable to contest the next general election, which must be held by 2018. |
| "The 'sodomy' charges against Anwar Ibrahim are clearly politically motivated and a blatant attempt by the Malaysian authorities to silence and undermine a critical voice," Amnesty International said in a statement. | "The 'sodomy' charges against Anwar Ibrahim are clearly politically motivated and a blatant attempt by the Malaysian authorities to silence and undermine a critical voice," Amnesty International said in a statement. |
| A decision from the court is expected on Thursday. | |
| In 2008, Mr Anwar was accused of having sex with a male political aide. He was cleared by a High Court of the charges in 2012 because of a lack of evidence. | |
| The government then appealed against his acquittal and it was overturned by the court. | The government then appealed against his acquittal and it was overturned by the court. |
| This is Mr Anwar's second sodomy conviction since he was sacked from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition government in 1998. His previous conviction was also overturned. | This is Mr Anwar's second sodomy conviction since he was sacked from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition government in 1998. His previous conviction was also overturned. |
| Timeline: Anwar Ibrahim | Timeline: Anwar Ibrahim |