World

Malaysia's Ex-Deputy PM Convicted

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

August 8, 2000 / 9:32 AM EDT / CBS

Malaysia's former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was sentenced to nine years in jail and convicted of sodomy Tuesday. The verdict divided the country and sparked international condemnation.

Before sentencing, Anwar 52, accused his one-time mentor, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, of using the judiciary to destroy him and vowed to keep fighting for democracy from behind prison walls.

Judge Ariffin Jaka convicted Anwar for "despicable acts in our society," and called the offense one that "should meet with utmost condemnation." Anwar's last words to the judge were: "See you in 2014."

The sentence will begin after Anwar finishes six years for a corruption conviction handed down in 1999, removing him from the Malaysian political scene he once seemed destined to lead as Mahathir's heir apparent.

The U.S.Tuesday joined international condemnation at the Malaysian court's decision and questioned the fairness of the trial.

"Clearly there are serious and credible concerns about the fairness of this trial that puts into question its outcome," White House National Security Council spokesman P.J. Crowley said when asked to comment on the case.

The State Department was expected to release a statement on the verdict later in the day.

Mahathir fired Anwar, a respected Islamic scholar, two years ago after increasing disagreements on how to handle the Asian economic crisis. Anwar then called for political reform, bringing some 30,000 supporters into the normally placid streets of Kuala Lumpur. The criminal charges soon followed, and he was beaten in custody. London-based Amnesty International has called him a prisoner of conscience.

The police presence was bolstered Tuesday on protest fears. Several hundred Anwar supporters gathered nearby shouting for reform, but there was no violence. Witnesses said at least 12 people were arrested.

Anwar's wife, Azizah Ismail, who led a political party carrying his banner of reform in elections last year, lost her composure and their two daughters wept. She said the case would be appealed.

Anwar had anticipated the verdict as he was led into court, but veered between acceptance and outrage after it was read.

"You have to be realistic," Anwar said. "Bloody, rotten judiciary!" But he added, "I can't blame him. He's just following orders."

Before he was sentenced, Anwar said that Mahathir had used his dominance of Malaysian politics to crush all dissent.

"He is a coward who will not seek responsibility for his own evil, so he used the court," Anwar declared. "Dr. Mahathir's lust for power is insatiable. He will lie and force others to lie."

The defendant and judge accused each other of being "sick" and Ariffin snapped: "You don't seem to understand what this is about. There is no point blaming everybody now."

Ariffin, who had maintained that he would render a verdict based on the facts, not poliics, rejected Anwar's claims of conspiracy and found Anwar's co-defendant and adopted brother, Sukma Dermawan, guilty.

Sukma was sentenced to six years imprisonment and four lashes with a rattan cane, but granted bail until an appeal could be heard.

The judge described the testimony of their former family driver and accuser, Azizan Abu Bakar, as unimpeachable. During the case, Azizan twice had changed the years that he said he had been sodomized, finally settling on one occasion in 1993.

"I'm satisfied that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt," Ariffin said. "There is no necessity for Azizan to lie. He has nothing to gain, but everything to lose. There were some discrepancies, but they were explained."

At the time of Anwar's arrest, Mahathir called him a sexual deviant unfit to hold office. A guilty verdict in the sodomy case was seen as a necessary legal endorsement for the prime minister's actions in the predominantly Muslim Southeast Asian nation.

Malaysia's biggest human rights group, SUARAM, said, "The guilty verdict is on the one hand shocking, yet because of the power play and assumption that political masters are involved not unexpected."

In London, Amnesty International condemned the prosecution as being politically motivated.

The London-based human rights group said Anwar and Sukma were "prisoners of conscience" and called for their unconditional release.

"The sentences...highlight the vulnerability of all Malaysians to selective, politically motivated prosecutions using restrictive or discriminatory laws, including those relating to free speech, to peaceful protest and, in this case, to sodomy," Amnesty said in a statement.