PKR's Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is seen here with his wife and party president Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail leaving the Federal Court last October after the first day of the appeal hearing. – The Malaysian Insider pic, January 26, 2015.Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today expressed confidence that he will be acquitted once the Federal Court announces its verdict on his sodomy appeal come February 10.
“Based on the arguments raised by my defence team, I am confident I will be acquitted. This is according to the details of the facts presented before the Federal Court,” Anwar said in a statement today.
He confirmed receiving information that the Federal Court would announce its verdict on his sodomy appeal on February 10, and added that he would pray to Allah to ensure justice would be upheld.
“Lies should not be used as a tool in a political bout nor should it be given the space to throw the country into chaos,” said Anwar.
It was reported that the Federal Court registry, via Twitter today announced that Anwar will know the verdict of his sodomy appeal on February 10.
The panel of judges, led by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria, is expected to make their decicion at about 9am on the day.
On January 10, Arifin had said that a notice would be sent to the parties at least two weeks before the court delivered its judgment.
Arifin led a five-man bench to hear the appeal which started on October 28 and ended on November 7.
He was previously quoted by Bernama as saying while judges were expected to complete their decision within three months, the Court of Appeal and Federal Court may take up to six months, if a case was complex.
On March 7, the Court of Appeal overturned the January 9, 2012 High Court decision in acquitting Anwar on a charge of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
He was accused of committing the offence at a unit of the Desa Damansara condominium in Bukit Damansara, between 3.10pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.
The three-member Court of Appeal panel chaired by Datuk Balia Yusof Wahi sentenced Anwar to five years of jail, but granted him a stay on the sentence pending his appeal to the Federal Court.
Anwar is now out on RM10,000 bail in one surety.
The prosecution also filed a cross appeal to enhance his jail term which could be up to 20 years.
Anwar's political career as an elected representative will end if his appeal fails as he will be disqualified from office if fined more than RM2,000 or jailed more than a year and does not receive a free pardon. – January 26, 2015
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