ACA quizzes Anwar on fabrication claims

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim was quizzed for about two hours by Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) officers at their headquarters in Putrajaya today.

The opposition stalwart was called in concerning his police report alleging fabrication of evidence regarding his 'black eye' incident in 1998.

Anwar arrived at the ACA headquarters at 10.05am accompanied by three lawyers - R Sivarasa, Sankara Nair and Param Cumaraswamy.

Some 30 supporters were also present.

The embattled politician - looking relaxed and fresh after his TV debate last night - smiled at waiting reporters before going into the ACA building.

Met after the interview, Anwar said the session could not be completed as he must present himself at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters (IPK) by 2pm in relation to the sodomy allegation against him.

In view of this, he said another date will be fixed with the ACA to finish the interview.

"I've to apologise to the ACA officers and have requested the interview be postponed to another date as I've been summoned and a warrant of arrest has been issued. And I want to be present at the IPK Kuala Lumpur," said Anwar.

On whether a date has been set for another interview, Anwar said: "I'm willing to come back as soon as possible.

"If I'm arrested I've suggested that the interview be done at the police compound," he quipped.

On whether he though he would be arrested, Anwar said that there was no basis for the case to warrant an arrest.

"There is already a trial in the mainstream media and there is no chance of me defending myself. I think it's a repeat of the 1998 incident especially with the Umno-controlled media."

When asked what he would advise his supporters in the event he was arrested, Anwar said he would appeal to them to exercise patience and restrain.

"But I don't think it is fair for me to pre-empt any police action. For now, i think that they are acting professionally and I hope they will conduct the investigations fairly - and I will give my fullest cooperation."

He was arrested soon after

His lawyer has yesterday said that Anwar - who debated on the fuel price hike with Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek last night - could be arrested when he goes to the police headquarters.

True enough, just before Anwar could get back to his house in Segambut for a brief stop before going for his 2pm appointment, he was arrested by a team of police and taken to the IPK.

The politician's former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan filed a police report on June 28 accusing Anwar of sodomising him.

Anwar claims that it is a conspiracy authored by his political rivals but this charge has been denied by government leaders.

Meanwhile, the ACA is investigating the July 1 police report filed by Anwar accusing Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan and Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail of fabricating evidence in his trials 10 years ago.

When Anwar was arrested on Sept 20, 1998, he was taken to the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters where the former deputy premier was beaten by then police chief Abdul Rahim Noor resulting in a black eye and injuries to other parts of his body.

At that time, Musa was the investigating officer of the charges against Anwar while Gani was the chief prosecutor.

Original medical reports ignored

Anwar said that the original medical reports done by a number of doctors were ignored.

"The medical reports concluded that the injury inflicted on me was consistent with an assault," he added in his police report.

However, Anwar claimed that instead of accepting the reports and prosecuting his assailant, then attorney-general Mokhtar Abdullah - in collusion with Gani - asked another doctor, Dr Abdul Rahman Yusof, to allegedly fabricate a second medical report.

Anwar said he believed both Musa and Gani were present at Bukit Aman on the night he was assaulted by Rahim Noor and that both had 'concealed' the assault.

"I believe both Musa and Gani Patail were actively involved in the procuring of the second undated report by Dr Rahman," he said.

Anwar called for a fresh investigation into the alleged fabrication of evidence, which is an offence punishable by up to seven years' imprisonment.

The ACA has stepped in to investigate the allegation as both the police and attorney-general's chambers are implicated in the matter.

Both Musa and Gani were questioned by the ACA last Friday.

Watch a 3-min video of Anwar at the ACA