Sodomy II verdict: Anwar NOT guilty!
Local and foreign media and the public thronged the court complex as early as 4am to get seats. PHOTO GALLERY | VIDEO
LIVE REPORTS
4.15am: Heavy police presence outside Duta Courthouse - 12 police trucks and one water cannon truck as well as hundreds of riot police are seen.
4.20am: The sky is still dark and it has been raining heavily in the Jalan Duta area.
5.16am: Police are not allowing court reporters inside the complex, saying that the court building is being scanned by bomb disposal unit.
5.30am: Two buses and 32 vans full of police officers show up.
6.06am: Reporters and some demonstrators assemble at Duta Courthouse main gates.
6.10am: Pro-PKR NGO Jingga 13, distributed Anwar masks at Duta hawker centre, they claimed to have printed 5,000 masks and give out to Anwar' s supporters. They are now wearing masks, and marching toward the Duta court.
6.11am: The police refuse to allow the more than 50 media personnel from entering the massive court complex.
In their briefing earlier, the police said journalists would be let in by 6am.
But the reporters, who arrived as early as 4am, were told that they will only open the gates at 6am.
As 6am approached, the police manning the gates told the reporters they would open the gates only at 7am' despite the pouring rain that began at 4.30am.
Many journalists are furious over such treatment by the police force.
6.25am: A crowd of about 100 Anwar supporters march to the car park outside the court complex, chanting "reformasi". More people are trickling in.
6.29am: The main body of rally supporters arrives led by Pakatan leaders, some wearing 901 and ABU (Anything But Umno) T-shirts. Several don Anwar Ibrahim masks.
They file up the road to the courthouse and aremet by police, who divert them to the car park designated as the assembly area. Some 300 of them gather there, intermittently shouting "reformasi".
6.30am:
Reporters heading into the court complex are not allowed to bring their umbrellas.6.35am: The total count of police vehicles inside the court complex and around the area:
21 police trucks
1 water cannon truck
33 vans
1 mobile command post
3 buses full of policemen
4 Light Strike Force Landrovers
7.05am: The number of rally supporters is steadily increasing, numbering about 1,500 now. They intermittently shout "reformasi" and "Allahuakbar". More continue tio arrive.
7.09am: The rain has stopped.
7.10am: A group of about 200 Sarawak PKR members arrive, carrying a 4ft by 8ft banner displaying messages and signatures of Anwar supporters in Kuching.
7.15am: Over at the Federal Territory Mosque where Perkasa plans to hold a counter rally, only few people are seen. There are about 30 people listening to a sermon in the mosque.
7.25am: Crowd size swells to 2,000.
7.30am: PKR vice-president Tian Chua gives a briefing to the crowd, saying that there will be only one court case today at KL Duta court complex.
Tian Chua says Anwar and the other leaders of Pakatan Rakyat will deliver a short speech before entering the court at 8.30am.
He says that only Anwar and his family members, diplomats, members of the media and 10 people from Pakatan will be allowed to enter the court to observe the proceedings.
While the judgment is being delivered, Tian Chua adds, someone from inside the court will keep the crowd informed about the proceedings.
7.36am: Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng arrives, with PKR leaders Rafizi Ramli and R Sivarasa.
7.40am: Rally coordinators urge protesters to move to the car park as the crowd has spilled onto the road the road leading into the court complex.
7.45am: Bersih coordinator S Ambiga arrives, followed by national laureate A Samad Said. The crowd size now is about 5,000.
8.03am: PKR Srikandi Keadilan chief Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail speaks to the crowd.
"Whatever the decision today, this wave must rise and make sure Umno collapses," Siti Aishah sys.
8.06am: Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh addresses the crowd: "We gather here today to show the system in our country is damaged - not only in terms of the judiciary, but economy, social, education... Everything.
"If Anwar is found guilty, then our judiciary is a kangaroo court."
8.12am:
Among the top PKR leaders seen outside the courtroom are Azmin Ali, N Surendran and Chua Jui Meng.8.14am: Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh: "We gather here today to show the system in our country is damaged. Not only in terms of the judiciary, but economy, social, education... Everything."
"If Anwar is found guilty then our judiciary is a kangaroo court."
8.17am: Ousted Perak MB and Bukit Gantang MP Nizar Jamaluddin takes the microphone.
"Today, we gather here to make sure the judge's decision is not influenced by the leaders of Umno."
"We hope the judge's decision will be in impartial," Nizar adds.
8.18am: Police officer Rajab Ahad urges part of the crowd to move into the car park area, instead of congegrating on the main road outside the court complex.
8.20am: Permas secretary-general Zulkifly Sharif says he is trying to round up members of Perkasa, Pekida dan Putra Malaysia for the counter-rally at the Federal Territory Mosque.
Their supporters are given yellow T-shirts displaying the words '901 Free Sex Antic'.
8.22am: Representatives from the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and a few other embassies from European countries are lining up to get into the courtroom.
Inter-Parliamentary Union international observer from Mark Trowell is also present.
8.25am: Former Perak speaker V Sivakumar tells the crowd: "In this court complex, we know what has happened - all our cases in the Perak crisis we lost.
"We know what kind of judgment we will receive but nevertheless, Malaysians will demand for justice."
8.30am: Student leader Adam Adli, who is embroiled in the controversy for lowering a flag of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, takes the microphone briefly, urging the crowd to destroy Umno.
8.32am: PSM's Nasir Hashim and Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim are seen in the crowd.
8.30am: The accused Anwar Ibrahim and his family arrive to rousing cheers of 'reformasi' from the nearly 6,000-strong crowd.
There is a bit of commotion as supporters rush to greet them. The crowd surges forward, breaking through the police cordon. Some of the supporters fall, after being pushed by others from the back.
8.37am: Diplomats and reporters allowed inside court. Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim is also in court.
8.59am: Annie Ooi aka Auntie Bersih arrives at the court complex to show solidarity with Anwar, donning a 'Generation 709' yellow T-shirt.
Ooi tells reporters that she came to the Duta court complex by bus.
"Easy lah, to come here," she says, as she tries to avoid the photographers.
" Banyak marah, apa diaorang buat pada rakyat ".
9.01am: PAS leaders Abdul Hadi Awang and Mahfuz Omar are among the crowd.
9.05am: A coordinator announces that PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has just arrived and has entered the court complex.
9.07am: Hadi Awang enters the courtroom, along with PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.
9.14am: Police Facebook page says that up to 9am, the total crowd size at the 901 rally is estimated at 4,500.
9.15am: DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang is also in court. Court to begin soon.
9.20am: Court begins sitting.
Local and foreign media and the public thronged the court complex as early as 4am to get seats. PHOTO GALLERY
LIVE REPORTS
4.15am: Heavy police presence outside Duta Courthouse - 12 police trucks and one water cannon truck as well as hundreds of riot police are seen.
4.20am: The sky is still dark and it has been raining heavily in the Jalan Duta area.
5.16am: Police are not allowing court reporters inside the complex, saying that the court building is being scanned by bomb disposal unit.
5.30am: Two buses and 32 vans full of police officers show up.
6.06am: Reporters and some demonstrators assemble at Duta Courthouse main gates.
6.10am: Pro-PKR NGO Jingga 13, distributed Anwar masks at Duta hawker centre, they claimed to have printed 5,000 masks and give out to Anwar' s supporters. They are now wearing masks, and marching toward the Duta court.
6.11am: The police refuse to allow the more than 50 media personnel from entering the massive court complex.
In their briefing earlier, the police said journalists would be let in by 6am.
But the reporters, who arrived as early as 4am, were told that they will only open the gates at 6am.
As 6am approached, the police manning the gates told the reporters they would open the gates only at 7am' despite the pouring rain that began at 4.30am.
Many journalists are furious over such treatment by the police force.
6.25am: A crowd of about 100 Anwar supporters march to the car park outside the court complex, chanting "reformasi". More people are trickling in.
6.29am: The main body of rally supporters arrives led by Pakatan leaders, some wearing 901 and ABU (Anything But Umno) T-shirts. Several don Anwar Ibrahim masks.
They file up the road to the courthouse and aremet by police, who divert them to the car park designated as the assembly area. Some 300 of them gather there, intermittently shouting "reformasi".
6.30am: Reporters heading into the court complex are not allowed to bring their umbrellas.
6.35am: The total count of police vehicles inside the court complex and around the area:
21 police trucks
1 water cannon truck
33 vans
1 mobile command post
3 buses full of policemen
4 Light Strike Force Landrovers
7.05am: The number of rally supporters is steadily increasing, numbering about 1,500 now. They intermittently shout "reformasi" and "Allahuakbar". More continue tio arrive.
7.09am: The rain has stopped.
7.10am: A group of about 200 Sarawak PKR members arrive, carrying a 4ft by 8ft banner displaying messages and signatures of Anwar supporters in Kuching.
7.15am: Over at the Federal Territory Mosque where Perkasa plans to hold a counter rally, only few people are seen. There are about 30 people listening to a sermon in the mosque.
7.25am: Crowd size swells to 2,000.
7.30am: PKR vice-president Tian Chua gives a briefing to the crowd, saying that there will be only one court case today at KL Duta court complex.
Tian Chua says Anwar and the other leaders of Pakatan Rakyat will deliver a short speech before entering the court at 8.30am.
He says that only Anwar and his family members, diplomats, members of the media and 10 people from Pakatan will be allowed to enter the court to observe the proceedings.
While the judgment is being delivered, Tian Chua adds, someone from inside the court will keep the crowd informed about the proceedings.
7.36am: Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng arrives, with PKR leaders Rafizi Ramli and R Sivarasa.
7.40am: Rally coordinators urge protesters to move to the car park as the crowd has spilled onto the road the road leading into the court complex.
7.45am: Bersih coordinator S Ambiga arrives, followed by national laureate A Samad Said. The crowd size now is about 5,000.
8.03am: PKR Srikandi Keadilan chief Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail speaks to the crowd.
"Whatever the decision today, this wave must rise and make sure Umno collapses," Siti Aishah sys.
8.06am: Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh addresses the crowd: "We gather here today to show the system in our country is damaged - not only in terms of the judiciary, but economy, social, education... Everything.
"If Anwar is found guilty, then our judiciary is a kangaroo court."
8.12am: Among the top PKR leaders seen outside the courtroom are Azmin Ali, N Surendran and Chua Jui Meng.
8.14am: Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh: "We gather here today to show the system in our country is damaged. Not only in terms of the judiciary, but economy, social, education... Everything."
"If Anwar is found guilty then our judiciary is a kangaroo court."
8.17am: Ousted Perak MB and Bukit Gantang MP Nizar Jamaluddin takes the microphone.
"Today, we gather here to make sure the judge's decision is not influenced by the leaders of Umno."
"We hope the judge's decision will be in impartial," Nizar adds.
8.18am: Police officer Rajab Ahad urges part of the crowd to move into the car park area, instead of congegrating on the main road outside the court complex.
8.20am: Permas secretary-general Zulkifly Sharif says he is trying to round up members of Perkasa, Pekida dan Putra Malaysia for the counter-rally at the Federal Territory Mosque.
Their supporters are given yellow T-shirts displaying the words '901 Free Sex Antic'.
8.22am: Representatives from the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and a few other embassies from European countries are lining up to get into the courtroom.
Inter-Parliamentary Union international observer from Mark Trowell is also present.
8.25am: Former Perak speaker V Sivakumar tells the crowd: "In this court complex, we know what has happened - all our cases in the Perak crisis we lost.
"We know what kind of judgment we will receive but nevertheless, Malaysians will demand for justice."
8.30am: Student leader Adam Adli, who is embroiled in the controversy for lowering a flag of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, takes the microphone briefly, urging the crowd to destroy Umno.
8.32am: PSM's Nasir Hashim and Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim are seen in the crowd.
8.30am: The accused Anwar Ibrahim and his family arrive to rousing cheers of 'reformasi' from the nearly 6,000-strong crowd.
There is a bit of commotion as supporters rush to greet them. The crowd surges forward, breaking through the police cordon. Some of the supporters fall, after being pushed by others from the back.
8.37am: Diplomats and reporters allowed inside court. Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim is also in court.
8.59am: Annie Ooi aka Auntie Bersih arrives at the court complex to show solidarity with Anwar, donning a 'Generation 709' yellow T-shirt.
Ooi tells reporters that she came to the Duta court complex by bus.
"Easy lah, to come here," she says, as she tries to avoid the photographers.
"Banyak marah, apa diaorang buat pada rakyat".
9.01am: PAS leaders Abdul Hadi Awang and Mahfuz Omar are among the crowd.
9.07am: Hadi Awang enters the courtroom, along with PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.
9.14am: Police Facebook page says that up to 9am, the total crowd size at the 901 rally is estimated at 4,500.
9.15am: DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang is also in court. Court to begin soon.
9.20am: Court begins with judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah presiding.
9.21am: Zabidin reads his five-minute verdict:
"Hence, the court is reluctant to convict on such corroboration of
evidence from (Saiful) and the accused is acquitted."
Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail cries and hugs her elated husband.
9.26am: Justice Mohamad Zabidin decision acquitting and discharging Anwar surprises all present.
The whole courtroom explodes in jubilation.
9.31am: The crowd gathered outside the Duta court complex cheer wildly after PKR vice-president Tian Chua annouces Anwar's not guilty verdict.
9.32am: In an immediate response, Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah tweets:
"Judge: reading results immediately. Evidence not corroborated. Papa is acquitted! Takbir!"
9.37am: People are hugging one another. Adam Adli and a group of students are jumping with joy. Some are shouting: "Tangkap Saiful" (Arrest Saiful!).
9.41am: Anwar thanks his lawyers.
"I'm finally vindicated after the smearing of my character. I'm thankful to Wan Azizah and the team of lawyers led by Karpal Singh.
He also thanked Pakatan Rakyat leaders for their support.
"We want to continue with the reform agenda, fighting corruption, and freedom of the press."
9.50am: The crowd has moved from the car park to the food court opposite the Federal Territories Mosque.
Tian Chua and other PKR leaders are addressing the jubilant crowd from the rooftop of the building.
9.56am: Police do not allow the Anwar supporters to enter the mosque as Perkasa and Pekida members are inside. The crowd passing the mosque boos at the Perkasa and Pekida members who are watching them from a distance, within the mosque compound.
Tian Chua, who is leading the crowd, moves to the food court opposite of the mosque.
9.58am: This proves that all the evidence presented against Anwar is fake, declares Tian Chua.
9.59am: As the crowd waits for Anwar to come out of the court complex to deliver a short speech, some of them chanting "Liwat Saiful".
10.06am: Government servants from the government complex opposite the road overseeing the food court line the side staircase on almost every floor to watch the happenings.
10.11am: Sodomy complainant Saiful tweets: "If not in this world, in the afterworld. I accept fate, will remain calm and continue praying."
10.20am: Anwar exits the court house to wild cheers of his supporters.
Shouts of "Reformasi!" reverbrate throughout the entrance to the KL court complex and the road leading out of it as a sea of supporters swarm Anwar and the Pakatan leaders accompanying him.
Speaking at the car park, Anwar says the hour for Pakatan Rakyat to free the people has arrived.
"This is not about the freedom of one man. Our duty now is to free the rakyat... Free the rakyat... Free the rakyat.
"We want real democracy, free media and a just economy. Let us all unite and now save Malaysia."
He says the people will soon give their verdict on the state of the country.
"Since we want to govern Malaysia, we must show a good example," he says.
Anwar asks the crowd to disperse peacefully and move to Penang for tonight's rally in his constitutency of Permatang Pauh.
Anwar then leaves, moving towards the Federal Territory Mosque where Pakatan supporters have been allowed to gather.
10.21am: Reaction from Human Rights Watch (HRW):
"Anwar was acquitted on a charge that should have never been brought in the first place," says Phil Robertson, deputy director of HRW's Asia Division.
"Hopefully, this verdict sends a message to the government to put this matter to rest."
10.25am: Police are attempting to disperse the pro-Saiful supporters in the Federal Territory Mosque to allow the Anwar supporters to go in to perform their prayers.
10.26am: Penang CM Lim Guan Eng says he hopes the persecution of Anwar will end and there will be no "third sodomy trial".
"Attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail should not allow himself to be used as a tool for BN and Umno.
Lim says the decision to acquit may have a positive impact on Najib's election chances, but it would not be big.
"I think he will not call election immediately after this and we hope Pakatan will register a bigger victory in the next GE," Lim adds.
10.48am: Anwar stops on the road out of the court complex after being mobbed by members of the media, who again press him for comments.
After a brief statement, Anwar is ushered away in his SUV to the Federal Territory Mosque, opposite the court complex, for thanksgiving prayers.
A loud noise, believed to be an explosion, is heard in the distance. It is learned that it could come from the electricity substation not far from the area.
10.51am: Police say that there was an explosion and they are investigating. The crowd is asked to disperse.
11.04am: A total of three explosions have been heard in the vicinity of the court complex from 10.15am, the last at 10.55am.
Unconfirmed reports say the first blast was caused by explosives hidden in police cones placed on the road. Details of the second and third are unknown, as of now.
11.06am: Somebody lefts off firecrackers near the site of the protest site, shattering the left side mirror of a vendor's van.
Angry protesters begin to surround the area attempting to apprehend the culript, but are unsuccessful.
"Move out, move out, this is a provocation, just ignore," shouted a participant.
Police move in and cordon off the area with tape. Two police dogs from the K9 unit are brought in to to search for explosive materials along Jalan Khidmat Usaha.
11.07am: Police ask to crowd to "bersurai serta merta kerana keadaan tidak selamat" (to disperse immediately as the situation is unsafe).
PKR vice-president Tian Chua also urges the crowd to disperse.
11.16am: The crowd begins to dispersed. Many people are seen walking away from the court complex.
11.20am: Two persons are believed to have been injured from the series of explosions - one in the hand and the other from a piece of shrapnel in the leg.
11.35am: Most of the crowd has dispersed.
