‘Clear proof of conspiracy to destroy Anwar’

Court proceedings against 'Datuk Trio' disgraceful and sickening, says PKR vice president N Surendran

PETALING JAYA: PKR claimed that the court proceeding of the “Datuk T” trio yesterday was proof that there is high-level conspiracy to destroy Anwar Ibrahim’s political career.

Yesterday, the trio, former Malacca chief minister Rahim Thamby Chik, former Perkasa treasurer Shuib Lazim and businessman Shazryl Eskay Abdullah pleaded guilty at the Kuala Lumpur magistrate court to screening a sex video to the public.

The trio screened a video allegedly showing the opposition leader engaged in illicit sex with a prostitute to several journalists at Carcosa Seri Negara in March.

In the proceeding yesterday, one of their defense attorney, Muhamad Shafee Abdullah told the court that forensic analysts from the US confirmed the man in the video was likely to be Anwar.

In a statement today, PKR vice president N Surendran said the alleged identity of the person in the video and it authenticity was completely irrelevant to the case yesterday.

“And by not being a party to the proceedings, Anwar had no opportunity to defend himself against the allegation,” said Surendran.

The PKR leader then lashed out at the prosecution team for not reprimanding the trio’s defense lawyer when the latter was smearing Anwar.

Surendran added that it was also worrying that the courts have allowed itself to be used by certain quarters for unlawful and unjust purposes.

“What happened yesterday was disgraceful and sickening, Worse, the trio merely received a slap on the wrist for their crime,” he said.

While Shazryl and Shuib was fined for RM3,000 and RM 1,500 under Section 292 of the Penal Code respectively for their offence, Rahim was slapped with a RM1,000 fine for abetting in the crime under Section 109 of the Penal Code.

Section 292 of the Penal Code carries a maximum jail term of not more than three years and a fine.