Federal Court dismisses Anwar's review bid to set aside conviction

The Federal Court today dismisses Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's final bid to set aside his sodomy conviction and five-year sentence for sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

The decision was made unanimously by a panel of five Federal Court judges chaired by Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin.

The judge made the decision after reviewing the submission and found the application had no merit and was not complete.

The former opposition leader's review application sought the court to invoke Rule 137 of the Rules of the Federal Court 1995 and review the decision of the five-member previous panel led by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria.

Alternatively, he wants the Federal Court to re-hear his appeal on its merits.

Anwar, 69, is serving a five-year jail term in Sungai Buloh Prison after the Federal Court on Feb 10, 2015, upheld his conviction and sentence imposed by the Court of Appeal on March 7, 2014.

On Jan 9, 2012, the High Court acquitted and discharged Anwar of the charge.

However, the Court of Appeal overturned the ruling and convicted him after allowing the prosecution's appeal.

Anwar committed the offence at Unit 11-5-1 of Desa Damansara Condominium in Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur between 3.10pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.