Tuesday July 1, 2008 MYT 8:27:58 PM

'DPM, Rosmah behind sodomy allegation', says Anwar

By LOONG MENG YEE and JO TEH

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim alleges that the Deputy Prime Minister and his wife are part of a three-person team behind the sodomy allegation he is recently accused of.

He added that all indications thus far pointed to a conspiracy from the office of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Najib's special officer Khairil Anas Yusof.

"I don't blame the accuser, I blame the conspirators in this game, using people as pawns," he said Tuesday during a packed press conference at the PKR headquarters here.

Apart from the photo PKR recently released showing the accuser Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan with Najib's aide Khairil, Anwar on Tuesday revealed a second link allegedly connecting Najib's office to the sodomy accusation.

Anwar said there was a statutory declaration stating Saiful was closely connected to Khairul Anas, and that he had met secretly with Najib and Rosmah on several occasions.

"This person, supposed to be my staff, working for me, but having secret meetings with Najib and the wife, aneh sekali ... (very strange)," Anwar said.

He added that the statutory declaration by an unnamed person would be revealed soon.

Anwar also said the sodomy charge should be dropped because it was frivolous and nonsensical.

When asked if he had any alibi on the night of the alleged sodomy, Anwar was silent for several seconds; he answered another question first, and then replied that he had ample proof and that he was with many people at that time.

He declined to elaborate, saying he had been advised by his lawyers to refrain from making any statement relating to the case. Compared to the first time when he was charged with sodomy in 1998, Anwar said this time he was well prepared with facts and documents to clear his name.

"In 1993, the police stole my diary and never returned it. We struggled to think of what happened years ago. This time, events are still fresh in my memory. There is the diary and witnesses.

"No way am I going to give them an easy route this time. I will fight them hard and effectively, because it is the second round of dirty conspiracy," said Anwar.

To another question, Anwar said he believed the sodomy accusation was re-used 10 years later because "they think this is the best to cause anxiety and disgust among Muslims."

He called on the police not to spring an arrest surprise, adding his lawyers had written three letters to the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney-General indicating his willingness to co-operate in the investigation.

"They have not replied until today. Take my DNA, take my hair. My hair is everywhere, except this part," said Anwar as he smiled and patted the middle part of his head.

Asked if he would lodge a police report on the death threats he received, Anwar replied, "Let's see how they investigate my report about the fabrication of evidence lodged against the IGP and the AG." He also mentioned that a former Chief Justice and a Federal Court Judge had apologised to him for the cases involving him in 1998 and 1999.

Anwar claimed the former Chief Judge had cried and said that "they were under orders."

The Federal Court Judge, added Anwar, had passed him a message saying: "You understand la sir, please understand us, circumstances were such and nothing could be done".

To that, he urged them to have the courage to publicly state their case.

"How do I declare a private conversation between me and a former Chief Judge who told me he had no choice; and in order to save the judiciary he had to do it," said the PKR de facto leader.

Commenting on his two-day stay at the Turkish Embassy, Anwar lambasted the Government for creating an issue over the invite.

"Anyone in their right mind will know it is not possible for me to enter the Turkish Embassy without permission in this high profile case," he said.

He thanked the Turkish ambassador, Prime Minister and its people for hosting him.