Anwar to face sodomy charge tomorrow

Singapore, Aug 6 (UNI) Malaysia's former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been served a subpoena to face a sodomy charge in a Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court tomorrow.

A Malaysian media report citing a police statement said investigation on sodomy charges against Anwar has been completed.

The former Deputy Prime Minister would be tried on a new sodomy charge alleged by one of his assistance. This is the second time he faces the court, having been jailed on a sodomy offence 10 years ago but being cleared by the higher courts later.

Anwar is preparing to contest a by-election for the Permatang Pauh constitutency, which, if he wins, would allow him to contend as the opposition leader in Parliament.

He has claimed to have won enough support of sitting parliamentarians to form the next government.

Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail resigned from the Permatang Pauh seat recently, paving the way for her husband to enter Parliament and make a deft comeback after a decade, when he was sacked as Deputy Prime Minister by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

If convicted under the sodomy charge, Anwar's political career would be killed, diplomatic sources said. He is already regarded as de facto opposition leader and adviser to the opposition political parties.

UNI XC SKB BST1522