Anwar Ibrahim is a free man at last...

I thought so...Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (DSAI) will be acquitted from the sodomy charges. 

DSAI is the Malaysia's Opposition Leader who has strong charisma and personality.  He has vowed to give hard time to the rulling party (Barisan Nasional) in the coming general election.  He has always insisted that the sodomy charges was politically motivated. 

Why he was acquitted?  I kept my opinion to myselft.  I can only take the news release from Malay Mail... 


KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is today a free man after the High Court here this morning delivered a verdict of not guilty in his highly-charged, long-drawn sodomy trial involving his then 23-year-old former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Proceedings began at 9.20am and Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah wasted no time in announcing the verdict to a packed court, stating the court "could not be 100 per cent certain that integrity of the DNA samples were not compromised."

Thus, he said DNA provided could not be used as evidence.
Mohamad Zabidin also said the court could not rely on Mohd Saiful's testimony alone as sodomy was a sexual crime.




As soon as the verdict was read, Anwar was seen hugging his family, with wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail breaking down in relief.

The news was immediately followed by a flurry of twitter postings, with Anwar's daughter and PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar tweeting at 9.23am, "Judge: reading results immediately. Evidence not corroborated. Papa is acquitted! Takbir!"

Although rumours of Anwar's acquittal began circulating through the thousands who had gathered outside the court building in support of the Opposition leader, many were reluctant to believe it until they heard it from the man himself.

Their hopes were confirmed soon after as at around 10am, Anwar emerged from the courthouse with his counsel Karpal Singh, who announced the acquittal.

Upon hearing the news, cheers broke out among the throng and chants of 'Reformasi' and 'hidup rakyat' could be heard.

On the way to meet his supporters, a relieved and beeming Anwar told reporters,"my name has finally been cleaned up. Keadilan (PKR) now has a bright future."

He also expressed his gratitude and appreciation towards his wife for being steadfast in her support and thanked his children and family for "sacrificing, believing and sticking by me to fight this"

Describing today as a "great day", Anwar thanked god and congraluted his supporters and party members for their hard work, solidarity and commitment.

"Now I just want to work hard. We need to reform. We need an independent judiciary."

Anwar, 64, had been charged with sodomising Mohd Saiful, 26, at a Condominium Desa Damansara unit in Bukit Damansara here, between 3.10pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.

He was charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code which carries a sentence of up to 20 years' jail and whipping, upon conviction.

This had been the second sodomy charge faced by Anwar.

On Aug 8, 2000, he was convicted and sentenced to nine years' jail after being found guilty by the High Court of sodomising driver Azizan Abu Bakar.

However, four years later, he was freed after the Federal Court, in a 2-1 majority decision, overturned the conviction and set aside the jail sentence.

(Source: Obtained from Malay Mail)