'I did not wash my anus to preserve evidence'

By FMT Staff
KUALA LUMPUR: Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, who has accused Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim of sodomising him, told the High Court that he did not wash his anus after the incident in order to preserve the evidence.
He said this in response to a question from Anwar's lead counsel Karpal Singh during cross-examination.

Karpal had asked if Saiful had his bath on June 26, 2008 (the day of the alleged incident), to which the latter replied that he had done so in the morning.
Karpal: Did you wash your anus after the incident?

Saiful: I rinsed it.

Karpal: Why didn't you wash it?

Saiful: I wanted to keep the evidence.

The lawyer also asked why Saiful did not file a police report on the day of the incident or the next day, to which the complainant said: “I was afraid it would affect my future.”

Earlier, Saiful was also given a copy of a news report which quoted him as telling a press conference that the June 26 incident was the first time he had been sodomised.

This was contrary to his claim in court that it happened several times before.

Yesterday, Saiful told the court that he had met Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak (who was then deputy premier) two days before June 26 to relate his ordeal.

When asked by Karpal to verify the facts in the news report, Saiful said there was an error pertaining to the part where he had mentioned that it was the first time he had been sodomised.

“I misinterpreted the question,” he added.
Visit to the condo
The sodomy trial has been adjourned to 2.15pm, during which the court would visit the scene of the incident for an in-camera proceeding where Saiful is expected to describe the alleged sodomy.

Anwar, 63, is charged with sodomising Saiful, his former aide, at Unit 11-5-1 of the Desa Damansara Condominium, Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, between 3.01pm and
4.30pm.

He is charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code and faces up to 20 years in jail and whipping if convicted. He was first charged in August 2008.

This morning, the court rejected Anwar's request for a stay of his sodomy trial pending his appeal against the dismissal of his application to obtain Saiful's witness statements.

Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah ruled that his decision to dismiss the application for the witness statements yesterday was procedural and could not be appealed.

The defence had also failed to show special circumstances for the stay to be granted, he added.