World

Anwar's Defense Rests

March 15, 1999 / 8:24 AM EST / AP

The defense in the sensational sex and corruption trial of ousted Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim rested its case Monday after the judge dealt it a stunning blow by refusing to hear crucial witnesses.

Lawyers for Anwar had appealed to the trial judge to allow witnesses on the stand who claim they were tortured by police into testifying against the jailed politician.

Defense lawyers said the witnesses, some of whom have served jail terms for allegedly having homosexual relations with Anwar, were "tortured until they fabricated stories" against him.

High Court Judge Augustine Paul ruled, however, that the evidence appeared to be "irrelevant" and witnesses did not seem to be "of such weight" to alter the case.

The trial, which has riveted Malaysia since it began Nov. 2, now enters its final stage. The judge adjourned the hearings until Sunday for closing arguments by both sides, after which he will pronounce his verdict.

Anwar, 51, was ousted from his post and jailed in September on suspicion of corruption and of committing sodomy and adultery -- both of which are illegal in Malaysian law. He faces a total 10 charges, but he says they are trumped up to remove him as a rival to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

His defense in this trial -- which is on four charges of abuse of power for trying to cover up his alleged illegal sex acts -- aimed at proving that police conspired with politicians to frame Anwar.

Anwar played down the judge's ruling Monday. "It's OK. It's not surprising," he said. When asked how long he expected to be sentenced, he replied: "Two, four years. It makes no difference."

Out of a list of people who police say engaged in illegal sex acts with Anwar, one is the prosecution's star witness.

Others from the list were jailed on the basis of alleged confessions, but later said police intimidated them into making false allegations against Anwar.

Among the witnesses the defense sought to bring were Anwar's adopted brother, Sukma Dermawan, and his former speech writer, Munawar Ahmad Anees, who served six-month sentences for alleged illegal sex acts with Anwar but who then retracted their confessions.

Anwar's defense team also tried to introduce testimony by U.S.-based businessman to whom the defense says a Malaysian diplomat in Washington offered bribes to make allegations against Anwar.

But Paul declined to let the businessman testify.