Dr Osman's Key Report

Dr Osman's Key Report
1 Aug, 2008

Perhaps Dr Muhamad Osman Abdul Hamid's report is the key to the case. The report indicated that there is no evidence that Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan had been sodomised.

Dr Osman's signature and the hospital's stamp were attached on the report. The report was as well written on the hospital's official letter form.

The authorities was shocked by the unexpected medical report. Two days ago, various important spokesmen said in unison that they wanted to flush out the person who has leak the report out.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar angrily rebuked the person who has exposed the medical report, while the police was concerned about how the report leaked out. The Health Director-General said the private hospital is responsible for the leakage. And the hospital said it did not leak the report. They seemed to have forgotten that the key focus should be the report itself instead of the person who leaked it out. "It has strengthened Anwar's position that the entire incident is in fact a conspiracy with the intention to end his political life."

Is the report genuine? And most importantly, is it valid in terms of law? If the report is not acceptable, then it will not have much impact in the investigation and trial. But it would be a different matter if it is authentic and valid. It is expected that the future dispute will focus on the report.

Until Wednesday (30 July), Hospital Pusrawi has finally made a statement and tried to unravel the mystery.

We can see more if we view the clarification made by Hospital Pusrawi from a a broader perspective. First of all, Dr Osman does exist and he is not a virtual character. Secondly, the medical report "looks genuine".

However, intentionally or unintentionally, the five points made by the hospital seems meant to weaken the report's validity. The hospital said Dr Osman is a general practitioner and not a specialist. Thus, he is not suitable in conducting a sodomy examination. Also, Dr Osman did not conduct a comprehensive sodomy examination on Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

I am afraid that whether Hospital Pusrawi's statement can be accepted depends on personal view. For example, some legal experts believe that any medical report made by a qualified doctor has legal status and can be used as a reference.

Of course, how the police, procecutors and court view the report is more critical than how you and me view it. The police, of course, knew the existence of the report earlier. The problem is, whether they paid attention to the report during their investigation and whether they considered it as an evidence to the case. And does how the Attorney-General Chamber view the report? Would it affect the decision whether to charge Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim? What would be the report's role in court?

These are all hypothetical questions at the moment. But for Anwar and PKR, as well as his supporters, the medical report is perhaps a lifeboat in the vast sea. It has strengthened Anwar's position that the entire incident is in fact a conspiracy with the intention to end his political life.

Meanwhile, the medical report has become a catalyst in the society. Many people believe that since they are unable to refute the doctor and the report, it means that the case has a lot of doubts, including many loopholes in Saiful's allegations.

The police and the Attorney-General Chamber must make a reasonable explanation over the medical report if they want to charge Anwar.

When would Dr Osman show up and what would he say are also the key to the case. (By TAY TIAN YAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)