Sodomy trial judge stays on

Anwar had previously tried and failed to have Mohd Zabidin dropped. — file pic

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 14 — The Court of Appeal here today dismissed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s bid to remove Sodomy II trial judge Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah from hearing the case at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur. The opposition leader is accused of sodomising a former aide in June 2008.
Anwar had made the appeal last month after the trial judge refused to step down from hearing the case.
This is the second time he has tried to remove the trial judge on grounds of bias, and lost.
In an immediate reaction, Anwar who was sitting on the front bench in the public gallery turned around and exclaimed to reporters: “Are you surprised?”
The sodomy trial is set for case management on Monday.