Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar says medical report clears him of sodomy accusation

The Associated Press ,  Kuala Lumpur   |  Tue, 07/29/2008 2:46 PM  |  Headlines

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim speaks during a press conference at the People's Justice Party headquarters in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday. (AP/Lai Seng Sin)

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed proof Tuesday that accusations he had sodomized a male aide were false, citing a purported medical report published by Internet news portals.

The authenticity of the report, said to have been issued by a doctor at the Pusrawi Hospital and ruling out sodomy, could not be verified Tuesday. Hospital officials and police contacted by The Associated Press declined to comment.

Still, Anwar said he stands vindicated.

Anwar told a news conference that the police must "stop the investigation" immediately, accusing top police officials of being part of a political conspiracy to derail his opposition campaign to end the ruling coalition's 51-year lock on power.

"I condemn in the strongest terms their negligence, dishonesty and recklessness in humiliating the nation by dragging us all through this vile and filthy charade," said Anwar, who had faced
a similar accusation a decade ago when he was deputy prime minister.

The new accusation, made by a male aide, surfaced last month as he became a powerful force in Malaysian politics and said he was poised to unseat the government, which is holding on to power with a thin 30-seat majority in Parliament.

Copies of the alleged medical report were published on Malaysiakini, Malaysia Today and other news portals on Monday. A doctor concluded in the report there were no medical indications
that the 23-year-old male aide had had anal sex, as he reported to police.

The purported diagnosis, dated June 28, said sodomy and assault were ruled out because there was no evidence of any tearing or blood. The Web sites published photocopies of the said report.

Hospital officials refused to confirm its existence. But Anwar said he is convinced it is not a fake because the police and the hospital have not denied it is genuine.

The reports said the doctor advised the aide to go to a government hospital for a second examination. It is not clear what transpired there, but the accuser went to a police station and filed a complaint against Anwar the same day.

Malaysiakini and Malaysia Today web sites said the report was leaked to it by unidentified sources.

The hospital report "confirms our contention that the allegations ... are baseless and politically motivated," Anwar said. He accused the aide of being "an outright liar working hand in glove with those in power to assassinate my character."

Police have refused to comment on the latest development, only saying that the report will sabotage its investigation.

Sulaiman Abdullah, a member of Anwar's legal team, said it is clear that there is "no basis for criminal action against Anwar (but) an excellent basis for criminal action against conspirators
who have created this foul and monstrous accusation against Anwar."

If the report turns out to be genuine, it would bolster Anwar's bid to return to Parliament in a by-election.

He was barred from contesting general elections in March - when his coalition made spectacular gains - because of a previous corruption conviction in connection with the 1998 sodomy accusation. The ban expired in April.

Anwar denied both charges but was sentenced to 15 years in prison. The sodomy charge was overturned in 2004 when he was freed after six years in jail.(**)

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