Malaysian judge rules Anwar has sodomy case to answer

Malaysia's High Court on Monday ruled that opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had a case to answer in his sodomy trial. A judge said he found the prosecution's main witness "credible".

Reuters

Anwar is accused of sexual relations with a 25-year-old male former aide in June 2008.

He was previously jailed for six years on sodomy and corruption charges that he says were politically motivated.

Under Malaysian law, after the prosecution has presented its case, a judge decides whether to dismiss the charges or to ask the defence to enter its response.

Anwar, a former deputy prime minister who now leads an opposition party, insists the accusations are part of a long-running government plot to derail his political career.

But authorities deny any conspiracy.

Anwar could spend 20 years in jail if convicted.

The trial began in January last year but has been postponed several times.

Anwar was sacked as deputy premier by then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1998 and found guilty of corruption and sodomy.

But he was released from jail in 2004 after the sodomy conviction was overturned.

He has since become an electoral threat to the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition, which has been in power for half a century.

The trial is to resume on 6 June.