Anwar’s Sodomy II appeal extended to next Monday

The Federal Court’s hearing of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal to overturn his sodomy conviction is now extended to next Monday (Nov 3) as the prosecution needs time to prepare answers to the defence’s submissions over the last three days.

Lead prosecutor Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said he needed more time to prepare, as he had only received the defence’s full submission this week.

At the court’s adjournment at mid-day today (Oct 30), Mr Shafee requested the bench to allow him to make submissions tomorrow morning, instead of this afternoon.

Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria, who is leading the apex court’s five-man bench, allowed Mr Shafee his request and adjourned the hearing for today.

Speaking to the press outside the courtroom, Mr Shafee said that the written submissions from Anwar’s team was only given to him on Tuesday, the first day of the hearing.

Mr Shafee said he also needed to consider the additional points added in the petition of appeal by Anwar.

He will submit the prosecution’s arguments tomorrow before closing statements by both sides are heard on Monday.

The Federal Court had initially fixed Oct 28 and 29 to hear the appeal. Anwar’s defence team is seeking to restore the findings of the High Court that had acquitted him of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

The trial judge found that the court could not be “100 per cent certain” about the DNA evidence tendered during the trial. THE MALAY MAIL ONLINE