Malaysian ex-deputy premier freed from prison

Malaysia’s highest court overturned the sodomy conviction of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim today and freed him from prison – exactly six years after his removal from office triggered the country’s worst political crisis.

A Federal Court panel ruled 2-1 to reverse Anwar’s conviction. He was expected to travel to Germany for surgery to treat a back injury stemming from a 1998 police beating.

Anwar was once considered the heir apparent of his mentor-turned-nemesis, then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. But Mahathir fired him, touching off widespread political turmoil.

Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi, who succeeded Anwar as Mahathir’s hand-picked heir, had been expected to take a softer line toward Anwar and put the divisive issue behind Malaysia after he took office last year.

In his first remarks to reporters, Anwar claimed that the convictions against him had been “highly politically motivated” but that he bore no ill will toward Mahathir, who retired 10 months ago.

“I bear no malice against him. Let him retire,” Anwar said. “I feel vindicated. This is all about justice.”

Judge Abdul Hamid Mohamad read out the verdict over 1 1/2 hours. As it became apparent that Anwar, 57, would be freed, the prisoner – wearing a neck brace and confined to a wheelchair – exchanged excited glances with family members and gave a thumbs-up sign.

“We are not prepared to uphold the conviction,” Abdul Hamid said. “We therefore allow this appeal and set aside the conviction and the sentence.”

Abdul Hamid said the conviction was flawed because the chief prosecution witness, Azizan Abubakar, had repeatedly changed the dates that he claimed Anwar had had sex with him. Azizan had been the driver for Anwar’s wife.

Anwar has long claimed that the convictions were rigged to prevent him from challenging Mahathir for power.

Anwar, jailed since 1998, had been expected to be in prison for another five years. A separate six-year corruption sentence ran out last year after it was reduced for good behaviour.

Anwar and Mahathir had clashed over how to deal with the economic crisis that swept through Asia in 1997-98, but underlying it was a challenge Anwar was thought to be mounting to replace Mahathir, who had ruled since 1982.

Mahathir fired Anwar on September 2, 1998. Anwar then led tens of thousands of protesters demanding democratic reform and an end to corruption.

Anwar was arrested, initially on national security grounds. He appeared in court with a black eye and raising a clenched fist, a defiant image that blotted Mahathir’s record as a statesman who transformed Malaysia into one of Asia’s wealthiest countries.

Anwar was charged with corruption and sodomy – a crime in mostly Muslim Malaysia – and convicted in separate trials widely seen as unfair.