Prosecution requests appeal against Anwar's acquittal be heard in July

The prosecution has requested that its appeal against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's acquittal on a charge of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, be heard in July.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin said this was indicated to the Court of Appeal deputy registrar N. Kanageswari during case management in her chambers on Friday.

However, she did not give any reason why the appeal should be heard in July.

Noorin and one of Anwar's lawyers, Ramkarpal Singh, met Kanageswari in chambers today, for case management of the matter.

Kanageswari has fixed Feb 22 for both the prosecution and defence to return and inform her on probable hearing dates.

"Prosecution is asking for the appeal to be fixed in July," Noorin told reporters.

Meanwhile, Ramkarpal said he needed to consult co-counsels whether the timeframe requested by the prosecution was suitable to them.

He said the defence's immediate concern was to get the notes of proceedings in order, before the court could fix the hearing date.

Both Noorin and Ramkarpal said the prosecution and defence were still in the midst of finalising the notes of proceedings.

On Jan 9, last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court acquitted and discharged Anwar of sodomising Mohd Saiful, 26, at a Desa Damansara condominium unit in Bukit Damansara here, between 3.10pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.

Anwar, 65, was charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code, which carries a jail sentence of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.

The prosecution filed on Jan 20, last year a notice of appeal against the opposition leader's acquittal from the sodomy charge.

On July 9, last year, the prosecution filed its petition of appeal which contained nine grounds.

The 80-page written judgment by High Court judge Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah revealed that there was penile penetration but it was uncorroborated by other evidence.

He said the court could not be 100 per cent certain on the integrity of samples taken for DNA testing from Mohd Saiful as the samples could have been compromised before they reached the chemistry department for analysis.