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KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim pleaded not guilty to sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan over a month ago.
The party's de facto leader denied having committed the offence at Desa Damansara Condominium in Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26.
The news that got many excited yesterday however, was that he walked out of court after posting a non-surety personal bond of RM20,000.
At the outset yesterday, when his name was called at 10.10am yesterday for the charge to be read out to him before Sessions judge S.M. Komathy Suppiah, Anwar who will turn 61 on Sunday, smiled and walked slowly to the dock under the watchful eyes of those in the packed courtroom.
Upon hearing the charge, Anwar said: "It is malicious slander and a betrayal. I am not guilty."
Solicitor-General Datuk Idrus Harun, who led a four-man prosecution team, asked for bail to be set at RM20,000 in one surety and Anwar's passport be surrendered to the court but lead defence counsel Sulaiman Abdullah went further to request for his client to be released on a personal bond.
Sulaiman said the nine-man defence team objected to the court retaining the passport saying there would be no possibility of Anwar absconding.
"Anwar is contesting for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat and has a strong possibility of going to Parliament. This morning it was announced that he would be made the Opposition Leader. It is inconceivable that he will not turn up in court for his case," he said.
Sulaiman urged the court to consider Anwar's public standing and the fact that he had cooperated with the authorities during investigations into the case.
Komathy then asked investigating officer DSP Jude Pereira, who is also Brickfields CID chief, if Anwar had been cooperative, to which, DSP Pereira said "Yes".
She then asked Idrus whether there was a possibility of Anwar absconding or tampering with the witnesses, to which he said: "It is difficult to say but the possibility is always there."
Sulaiman then argued that the case was an ideal one to grant a bond to let Anwar know that the law was on his side.
"This case is a rare case, but of course the second or third time," he said drawing laughter from people in the public gallery. Anwar also smiled.
Anwar smiled as the judge, who granted the bond, inquired whether his birthday would be on Sunday. He confirmed it and thanked the judge for the bond, causing all his supporters in the courtroom to applaud and cheer loudly.
Komathy also set Sept 10 for mention pending any application to transfer the case to the High Court.
Speaking to reporters later, Anwar who signed his bond papers at 11.12am, said his case is not a normal case and that the defence would ask for a copy of the police report on the allegations against him.
He also asked why Saiful was not charged for the offence.
"Just imagine if Saiful had to sit in the same dock with me, what to do?" he asked as he winked at reporters and laughed aloud.
He also said that he had been teased and advised by his friends that he should learn a lesson not to have a "young, smart and handsome man around me".
"I was told that I couldn't bring a pretty girl. She (his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) will object.
"I cannot bring a young man or old man. I can only bring an 80-year-woman on a wheelchair. I will be safe. If it's a pretty girl, Azizah will strangle me," he said with laughter.
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