SODOMY CHARGE IS ON IN TIME FOR PP BY-ELECTION

Anwar receiving subpoena from DSP Preira

Anwar with Azizah at press conference

Anwar to be charged for sodomy
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KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 6, 2008) : Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be charged for sodomy in the Sessions Court here today, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said today.

He said the move to charge Anwar was made following a decision by the Attorney-General's office.

He said a written notice had been issued to Anwar to be present at the Kuala Lumpur Session's Court, Jalan Duta, at 10am today.

"Police have carried out an investigation on a sexual crime involving intercourse against the order of nature involving Anwar, based on existing legal principles and procedures. The investigation papers were handed over to the Attorney-General's office for advice and a decision," he said.

The subpoena to appear in court was served on Anwar by DSP Jude Pareira, head of Criminal Investigation Department, Brickfields District police headquarters, at the former deputy premier's residence in Segambut Dalam, here at about 12.05 pm yesterday.

The move by the police is the culmination of a month-long investigation into a sodomy complaint by Anwar's former aide that grabbed headlines.

Coincidentally, the serving of the notice comes on the day the Election Commission (EC) fixed Aug 16 as nomination day for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election in Penang and Aug 26 for polling if there is a contest.

The seat was vacated by PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, to pave the way for her husband Anwar to return to national politics.

In a press conference at the PKR headquarters after he had received the police notice, Anwar said he was being prosecuted for "a crime that I did not commit".

He also slammed the timing of the decision, saying it was a conspiracy to bring him down.

On the 10-day by-election campaign period, Anwar said he looked forward to it to meet with his voters in a home constituency.

He called on the EC to ensure that the by-elections were conducted in a "fair and unbiased manner."

In Bentong on Tuesday night, Anwar had told some 3,000 people who attended his ceramah at the PAS operations centre in Chegar Medang that the Barisan Nasional (BN) will do "all sorts of things" to make sure he loses in Permatang Pauh.

He said he believed the BN leaders and machinery would continue to smear his name.

Anwar's ceramah was disrupted by a power failure about 11pm, causing a slight commotion among his supporters.