- KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia’s High Court will decide next month whether to dismiss the sodomy charge against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim or order his lawyers to start calling defense witnesses.
Anwar faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of sodomizing a male former aide in 2008. The government denies Anwar’s insistence that the charge is politically motivated.
The prosecution recently finished questioning 27 witnesses. Its case hinges on testimony by Anwar’s 25-year-old accuser and semen found on the man’s body that allegedly matches Anwar’s DNA.
Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah said Tuesday he will rule May 16 whether the prosecution has established a reasonable case.