(30 Sep 1998) Natural Sound
Malaysia's ousted Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim appeared in court for a second day bearing the bruises of what he says is police brutality while he was in custody.
Anwar pleaded innocent to a 10th charge - of committing an illegal sexual act on Wednesday.
He was sacked by the country's Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad on September 2nd and was arrested on September 20th.
Anwar claims since his arrest he has been beaten up by police - Amnesty International has called for an investigation into Anwar's allegations of police brutality.
Malaysia's fired Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim seen here with a bruise on his eye- he claims caused by police while police in custody.
Anwar was in a suburban Kuala Lumpur Court on Wednesday pleading innocent to a 10th charge - of committing an illegal sexual act.
Anwar will be tried on 10 counts of corruption and illegal homosexual acts.
He faces a maximum of 14 years in jail if corruption is established and 20 years if the charges of sodomy are proven.
Several hundred riot police surrounded the suburban Kuala Lumpur courthouse to keep out crowds who had gathered to get a glimpse of Anwar after reading newspaper accounts of his injuries.
Anwar's wife, Azizah Ismail has been at her husbands side and is campaigning for his release.
She followed her husband back to the federal police headquarters, where an eye doctor determined that his retina wasn't permanently damaged.
To block a potential protest near the courthouse, police also stationed a water cannon and prevented people from gathering in groups.
Opposition parties condemned the Malaysian government over Anwar's allegations that he was beaten and punched by police while in their custody.
But Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad hinted Anwar's wounds might be self-inflicted.
Amnesty International and the U-S State Department have also expressed concern over Anwar's safety in police custody.
The Malaysian People's Party, another opposition group, called on Mahathir to guarantee that physical and psychological force would not be used against Anwar.
The Deputy Prime Minister was fired by Mahathir on September 2nd and arrested on September 20th.
He was being kept under a harsh Internal Security Act, which allows for imprisonment without trial.
Anwar has launched a movement for political reform which has slowly grown into a campaign for Mahathir's ouster.
News of the fired Deputy Prime Minister's court appearances have hit the headlines of newspapers across Malaysia.
The case against him received a setback when two men convicted of allowing him to sodomize them appealed their convictions to the High Court.
Munawar Anees, Anwar's former speech writer, and Sukma Dermawan, Anwar's adopted brother had pleaded guilty earlier this month to allowing Anwar to sodomize them.
They were sentenced to six months in jail.
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