Saiful says Anwar was his idol

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s accuser told the High Court today that he once idolised the Opposition Leader, describing himself as an “Anwar fan”.

Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan was recounting in court today on the third day of Sodomy II his experience when he first met his idol Anwar in March 2008, soon after the general elections that year.

“In March, my friend Rahimi Osman called me to come to his office in Petaling Jaya, Section 16. He had called because he wanted to chat with me and catch up on things.

“While talking at the office, he asked me whether I was employed. When I said that I was not working, he then asked me whether I wanted to become an assistant in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s office,” said Saiful.

According to Saiful, Rahimi had told him that Anwar was short of office staff owing to the fact that staff members such as Nurul Izzah and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad were contesting in the elections at that point of time.

Saiful recounted how he was still divided over taking a job there when Rahimi took him to a meeting and introduced him to Anwar.

Saiful, not friends with Anwar anymore. - Picture by Choo Choy May

“I was shocked. I had not decided on anything yet when Anwar said, ‘I appreciate your helping us’. It was a signal as if he had accepted me there and then.”

Saiful also told the court that he had always idolised Anwar because “Anwar is a charismatic leader.”

Earlier the court was taken through a tedious process of evidence introduction.

Among the items introduced were rectal swabs taken from Saiful and also his clothes worn during the alleged sodomy, including a white Levi’s underwear.

Other items introduced were clothes worn during the alleged sodomy which included a blue- white Ralph Lauren shirt, a pair of blue-black Levis underwear, and also black slacks/pants.

The crowd reacted strongly to Saiful’s testimony that the black pants were a “gift from Anwar”.

A tube of K-Y Jelly, a common lubricant, was also introduced as evidence.

When asked by the prosecution as to what he had initially told the medical doctor at Hospital Pusrawi during the check-up, Saiful replied that in the middle of the check-up he told the doctor that he had been “sodomised”.

“I did not pass motion for two days after the incident,” Saiful told the court.

Saiful also spoke of a meeting he had with Anwar on June 27, 2008 in which he told the Opposition Leader he wanted to quit his job as personal assistant.

This meeting took place after the alleged sodomy.

“I had sent an email to Anwar on Friday morning the 27th of June. A few hours later, he called me and asked me to come to his office.

“He then asked me why I wanted to quit.”

According to Saiful, the reasons he gave the PKR leader in his email was that he lacked discipline, was always late for work and not academically qualified for the post.

He alleged that he was “afraid” of being questioned because he was apparently given more privileges than other staff.

“But this was not the real reason. The real reason was because ‘tak ingin diperlakukan sedemikian lagi (do not wish to be treated like that anymore)’.”

Saiful then claimed Anwar tried to persuade him not to quit, and offered to sponsor Saiful’s studies with full pay and allowances. He said he was scared at the time and agreed to the offer.

“Anwar said that he felt sad and disappointed with my decision, and he had persuaded me not to quit.

“I was afraid to object at that time, so I accepted.”

Later on, lead counsel for Anwar’s defence team Karpal Singh raised an objection to Utusan Malaysian and Sinar Harian carrying a photo caption that was, according to Karpal “out of hand”.

The picture which showed Saiful, Judge Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah, defence and prosecution lawyers in the bedroom of the alleged incident was captioned “Mohd Saiful Bukhari menunjukkan katil di bilik tidur utama tempat beliau mendakwa diliwat Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim kepada Hakim Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah” (Saiful showing the judge the bed in the master bedroom where he claims to have been sodomised by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim).

Karpal’s argument was that even during in-camera, the bed was never introduced as evidence, therefore the caption is misleading.

The judge, however, dismissed Karpal’s objection.

The court then stood down for a second visit to the condominium where the alleged sodomy took place.

Yesterday, Saiful had told the court he went for a medical check-up only two days after he was allegedly sodomised by the Opposition leader.

Earlier yesterday morning, the court also visited the condominium where Saiful explained how and where the alleged act of sodomy occurred two years ago.

Saiful, who Anwar said was just his “coffee-boy”, continues to be in the witness dock this morning on the third day of the trial.

Solicitor-General II Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden led the questioning on behalf of the prosecution before High Court judge Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah.

Anwar, the 62-year-old PKR de facto leader, is charged with sodomising Saiful at Unit 11-5-1 of the Desa Damansara Condominium in Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara here between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.

The former deputy prime minister has denied the charge, describing it as “evil, frivolous lies by those in power” when the charge was read out to him. He is charged under section 377B of the Penal Code and can be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years’ jail and whipping upon conviction. The trial is taking place 18 months after Anwar was charged in court in August 2008.

Anwar was charged with sodomy and corruption in 1998 after he was sacked from the Cabinet and was later convicted and jailed for both offences. He was freed in September 2004 and later resurrected his political career by winning back his Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in a by-election in 2008, which had been held in the interim by his wife.

He had earlier led the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, to a historic sweep of five states and 82 parliamentary seats in Election 2008.

Hearing continues on Monday.