Judge: Anwar's Sodomy II decision 'soon'
Nigel AwPublished: Jan 10, 2015 1:41 PM | Updated: Jan 10, 2015 6:20 PM
The fate of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in his sodomy trial will be decided soon, says Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria.
UPDATED 6.25PM
The CJ says it is still within the time limit for judgments.
The fate of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in his sodomy trial will be decided soon, says Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria.
Arifin was asked whether Anwar's Sodomy II decision will conform to a circular to judges that they should deliver their decision or written judgment within three months.
Responding to this, Arifin said it has only been two months since Anwar's trial at the Federal Court, which is still within the time limit.
"(It is) within the timeline. (It will be delivered) within the next few months," he told journalists after the opening of the judiciary’s Legal Year 2015 in Putrajaya today.
Arifin was previously quoted by Bernama as saying that while judges are expected to complete their decision within three months, the Court of Appeal and Federal Court may take up to six months, if the case is complex.
Pressed for a more specific timeframe, Arifin, who headed the panel in Anwar's trial, merely reiterated that it would be "soon".
Two-week notice must be issued
"How soon, I cannot indicate. But I'm telling you the notice will be out soon," he said.
According to court procedures, a two-week notice must be issued to the parties involved before a decision is delivered.
Anwar's sodomy trial concluded on Nov 7, but the Federal Court reserved its judgment to a future date, citing the need for time to review the submissions.
Aside from Arifin (left), the five-man bench comprise Court of Appeal president Md Raus Sharif and Federal Court judges Abdull Hamid Embong, Suriyadi Halim Omar and Ramly Ali.
Anwar is appealing the Court of Appeal's decision which on March 7, 2014, sentenced him to five years in prison.
The opposition leader is accused of sodomising his former aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan, in 2008 - a charge which Anwar claims to be politically motivated.
Anwar, who was deputy prime minister, had been previously convicted of sodomy in 1999, but was later freed in 2004 after his conviction was partially overturned.
On a separate matter, Arifin said judges are mooting to set dates for cases based on their own schedule, rather than the existing practice of accommodating the lawyers' schedule.
This, he added, is to avoid cases to be delayed due to certain senior lawyers taking up more cases than they can handle.
'Line must be drawn for retired judges'
Meanwhile, attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail noted that the legal fraternity must decide the parameters in which former judges can serve as lawyers after retirement.
"Malaysia will have to decide for itself where to draw the line, and what are the restrictions, in a time where long conventions are being departed from.
"It is undesirable to leave this issue to be shrouded in uncertainty," he said.
Gani did not name names, but appear to be referring to ex-Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram (left), who represented Anwar in his sodomy trial.
Gopal had come under criticism for breaking from convention among retired judges.
Retired judges do not normally act as counsel over fears that their status may influence former colleagues who are still sitting judges.
The former Federal Court judge was also speculated to have been forced out of law firm Soo Thien Ming & Nashrah as a consultant, due to him representing the opposition leader.
However, Gopal has denied this, stressing that he parted with the law firm on good terms.
PKR: Police intimidation a sign
In a related development, PKR Youth said the sudden police action against their flashmobs in support of Anwar was a sign that the verdict was close at hand.
PKR Youth strategy director Akmal Nasir in a statement today complained that two of its youth members and Selayang branch members have been called to report to the Rawang police station tomorrow.
He claimed they are being investigated under the Peaceful Assembly Act in relation to the 'Rakyat Hakim Negara' flashmobs PKR has been organising in support of their de facto chief's longdrawn court saga.
Noting such flashmobs had been organised previously without incident, Akmal said, "Intimidation such as this police investigation only raises the awareness of the people to call for justice in Malaysia."
"This also gives us the impression that the verdict on Anwar will be announced any time soon.
"Although the date is still guesswork, PKR Youth is prepared to gather in numbers at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya (when the time comes)," he added.
Arifin was asked whether Anwar's Sodomy II decision will conform to a circular to judges that they should deliver their decision or written judgment within three months.
Responding to this, Arifin said it has only been two months since Anwar's trial at the Federal Court, which is still within the time limit."(It is) within the timeline. (It will be delivered) within the next few months," he told journalists after the opening of the judiciary’s Legal Year 2015 in Putrajaya today.
Arifin was previously quoted by Bernama as saying that while judges are expected to complete their decision within three months, the Court of Appeal and Federal Court may take up to six months, if the case is complex.
Pressed for a more specific timeframe, Arifin, who headed the panel in Anwar's trial, merely reiterated that it would be "soon".
Two-week notice must be issued
"How soon, I cannot indicate. But I'm telling you the notice will be out soon," he said.
According to court procedures, a two-week notice must be issued to the parties involved before a decision is delivered.
Anwar's sodomy trial concluded on Nov 7, but the Federal Court reserved its judgment to a future date, citing the need for time to review the submissions.
Aside from Arifin (left), the five-man bench comprise Court of Appeal president Md Raus Sharif and Federal Court judges Abdull Hamid Embong, Suriyadi Halim Omar and Ramly Ali.Anwar is appealing the Court of Appeal's decision which on March 7, 2014, sentenced him to five years in prison.
The opposition leader is accused of sodomising his former aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan, in 2008 - a charge which Anwar claims to be politically motivated.
Anwar, who was deputy prime minister, had been previously convicted of sodomy in 1999, but was later freed in 2004 after his conviction was partially overturned.
On a separate matter, Arifin said judges are mooting to set dates for cases based on their own schedule, rather than the existing practice of accommodating the lawyers' schedule.
This, he added, is to avoid cases to be delayed due to certain senior lawyers taking up more cases than they can handle.
'Line must be drawn for retired judges'
Meanwhile, attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail noted that the legal fraternity must decide the parameters in which former judges can serve as lawyers after retirement.
"Malaysia will have to decide for itself where to draw the line, and what are the restrictions, in a time where long conventions are being departed from.
"It is undesirable to leave this issue to be shrouded in uncertainty," he said.Gani did not name names, but appear to be referring to ex-Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram (left), who represented Anwar in his sodomy trial.
Gopal had come under criticism for breaking from convention among retired judges.
Retired judges do not normally act as counsel over fears that their status may influence former colleagues who are still sitting judges.
The former Federal Court judge was also speculated to have been forced out of law firm Soo Thien Ming & Nashrah as a consultant, due to him representing the opposition leader.
However, Gopal has denied this, stressing that he parted with the law firm on good terms.
PKR: Police intimidation a sign
In a related development, PKR Youth said the sudden police action against their flashmobs in support of Anwar was a sign that the verdict was close at hand.
PKR Youth strategy director Akmal Nasir in a statement today complained that two of its youth members and Selayang branch members have been called to report to the Rawang police station tomorrow.
He claimed they are being investigated under the Peaceful Assembly Act in relation to the 'Rakyat Hakim Negara' flashmobs PKR has been organising in support of their de facto chief's longdrawn court saga.Noting such flashmobs had been organised previously without incident, Akmal said, "Intimidation such as this police investigation only raises the awareness of the people to call for justice in Malaysia."
"This also gives us the impression that the verdict on Anwar will be announced any time soon.
"Although the date is still guesswork, PKR Youth is prepared to gather in numbers at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya (when the time comes)," he added.
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