Late Karpal proved fallacy in Sodomy I charge, Anwar's lawyer tells Shafee

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 ― The late Karpal Singh cannot be faulted for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy conviction by first raising allegations of sexual misconduct in 1997 as he had set the basis for the opposition leader's political conspiracy defence in his first sodomy case, lawyer Gobind Singh Deo said today.

Gobind accused Anwar's Sodomy II prosecutor Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah of misleading facts when the latter claimed earlier this week that the late DAP leader “threw the first stone” which eventually led to “the downfall of Anwar Ibrahim”.

“With respect, Shafee hits lowest of the low with this feeble attempt of an attack of his against Mr Karpal Singh after the conviction of Anwar Ibrahim in Sodomy II,” Gobind said in a statement here.

The Puchong MP pointed out that in 1997, sexual misconduct allegations against Anwar in the form of a statutory declaration were made and Karpal had raised the matter in Parliament, calling for an investigation into the matter and for the then deputy prime minister to be cleared if the allegations were untrue.

Karpal had also stated back then that if investigations found that the allegations against Anwar were “without basis and politically motivated”, action must be taken against the accusers, said Gobind.

“As a result of that, prominent personalities raced forward to clear Anwar Ibrahim. The then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the allegations against Anwar Ibrahim were ridiculous and slanderous,” Gobind said, adding that even the then-Attorney General Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah had done the same.

But shortly after that, Anwar was dismissed as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, the same accusations were raised again and he was charged in court.

“In doing this, Mr Karpal Singh struck at the heart of the matter. How could a man be innocent one day and guilty the next and what more only after a political storm with his master?

“This later became the basis for a defence of political conspiracy, bad faith and persecution against Anwar Ibrahim,” DAP's Gobind explained.

Shafee, who was appointed as deputy public prosecutor in Anwar's Sodomy II appeal and Federal Court case, had said in a statement that Karpal had accused Anwar of being a homosexual in Parliament.

“And who was his original accuser? The late Karpal Singh MP, a brilliant lawyer. Any account of the criminal and then political downfall of Anwar Ibrahim should recall who threw the first stone,” Shafee had said.

The Federal Court upheld Tuesday the Court of Appeal’s sodomy conviction against Anwar and maintained the five-year sentence it meted to him last year.

Anwar’s conviction has invited questions over Malaysia’s judicial independence, with US and Australia leading the criticism of the decision to send Anwar to jail over a charge that he vehemently insists is a political ploy to end his career.

The court decision also leaves the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) federal opposition pact without a leader.