Share |

Thursday 6 January 2011

Ex-cop: DNA proof in sodomy trial faked


KUALA LUMPUR: The DNA evidence used against Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim in his first sodomy trial was fabricated, said a former investigating officer in the 1998 “black-eye incident”.

Former Kuala Lumpur CID chief Mat Zain Ibrahim claimed he has in his possession proof the evidence was faked and appealed to the Solicitor-General Idrus Harun to end the alleged cover-up of the case that took place after Anwar’s dismissal as deputy prime minister in 1998.

Mat Zain again named former Inspector-General of Police Musa Hasan and Attorney-General Abdul Gani Pattail as the main culprits. The two were also alleged to have fabricated evidence in the infamous “black-eye incident”.

“In my letter dated Dec 27, 2010, I explained that any investigation on the information must also refer to the investigation papers on the black-eye case because of overlapping incidents.

“This is especially so since the key players in the fabrication of evidence in the black-eye case and DNA fabrication are the same,” he said in an open letter to Idrus which was published in DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang’s blog.

Anwar was assaulted by then IGP, Rahim Noor, soon after his arrest in 1998. The former deputy prime minister was later convicted for abuse of power and sodomy but was released in 2004 after the Federal Court cleared him of sexual misconduct.

Rahim took full responsibility for the assault and subsequently resigned.

During his first sodomy trial, a mattress, from which Anwar’s DNA samples were extracted, was presented to the court to prove sexual acts.

Mat Zain’s latest allegation on fabrication of DNA evidence in Anwar’s case was briefly mentioned in his appeal to Idrus to intervene in the “black-eye case”.

Misleading facts presented in Parliament

In today’s letter, Mat Zain made fresh allegations against both Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Aziz, who he accused of presenting inaccurate and misleading facts on the case to Parliament recently.

“The A-G, deliberately or not, had caused Hishammuddin and Nazri to make confusing announcements in Parliament,” he said, adding that the details of the case were provided to the ministers by the A-G’s office.

Despite the strong allegations in his first letter to current IGP Ismail Omar, Hishammuddin had told Parliament early last month that Putrajaya will not reopen the case. Then on Dec 14, Nazri avoided replying to Mat Zain’s accusation that Gani and Musa had fabricated evidence.

Instead, Nazri said Mat Zain’s quest to clear his name was unnecessary as he was not the subject of the “black-eye” investigation. Mat Zain, along with Gani and Musa, were the subject of Anwar’s police report lodged in July 2008.

The Permatang Pauh MP accused the three, along with a ‘Dr Abdul Rahman Yusof’, of falsifying a medical report which alleged that his injuries had been self-inflicted. Mat Zain then filed a defamation suit against Anwar.

Three independent panel members comprising Federal and Court of Appeal judges later cleared Gani and Musa of the allegations, but the status of Mat Zain and Abdul Rahman remained uncertain.

Today, Mat Zain urged Idrus to exercise his power as a public prosecutor to make an official stand over the issue.

“It is inappropriate for the A-G to hide behind ministers in issuing statements on investigations made by prosecutors, said Mat Zain.

“You have argued before that even the prime minister is not the competent authority to make such statements on behalf of the A-G,” added the former CID chief.

Idrus’ prompt action and stand on the matter were needed to restore the dented image of the A-G’s Chambers, said Mat Zain who had previously disclosed an agreement involving himself, Rahim, and former Deputy IGP Norian Mai on Oct 8, 1998 that there would be a“complete closure” to the black-eye case.

“You can either choose to continue to cover up the criminal act and to continue lying to protect previous lies or you can choose to save the credibility of the A-G’s Chambers,” said Mat Zain.

No comments: