KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s defence team today filed a motion at the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya to disqualify lawyer Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah from appearing as the public prosecutor in the sodomy appeal of the opposition leader.

Anwar’s co-counsel Ram Karpal Singh, when contacted today, confirmed the 4pm filing at the Appeals Court.

He said the application would be heard on the first day of hearing of the appeal on Sept 17.

Muhammad Shafee was given the authority by the attorney-general to lead the prosecution team in its appeal against Anwar’s acquittal on a charge of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 26.

The offence was allegedly committed at a Desa Damansara condominium unit in Bukit Damansara between 3.10pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008. 

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur had acquitted and discharged Anwar, 64, on the charge on Jan 9, last year. – Bernama