(14 Apr 1999) English/Nat
Ousted Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty in a corruption trial.
He was convicted on four charges of abusing his office to cover up acts of sodomy and adultery.
The conviction bars Anwar from returning to politics for at least five years.
Anwar Ibrahim was sentenced to six years on each of the four corruption charges.
According to his lawyers, who say they will file an appeal, the sentences will run concurrently.
Anwar, who was finance minister since 1991 and deputy prime minister since 1993, still faces another corruption charge and five counts of sodomy.
Before the verdict Anwar's wife Azizah Ismail had described her feelings about the case.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Expectant, waiting and a bit of apprehension
Q. Are you prepared for the worst?
I have to, but when it comes, still it will strike me hard."
SUPER CAPTION: Azizah Ismail, Anwar Ibrahim's wife
But his lawyers had been more upbeat about the verdict.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We feel pretty confident"
SUPER CAPTION: Top attorney for Anwar Ibrahim
According to one of Anwar's lawyers the verdict will change the face of Malaysian politics.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"There's no doubt about it, I think it will... in regard to the far reaching implications and the ramifications of the deposition which will entail."
SUPER CAPTION: Kartal Singh, opposition politician and attorney for Anwar Ibrahim
Before the verdict protestors walked through the streets shouting "reformasi," the Malay word for reform and the rallying cry of Anwar's political movement.
Later hundreds of riot police carrying truncheons blocked about 300 slogan-shouting supporters who tried to march on the Moorish court building as the verdict was being read.
The crowd refused to disperse and remained close to the building,
During the bizarre trial the judge listened to 23 prosecution witnesses and 22 from the defence.
The state argued that Anwar was a corrupt adulterer.
A mattress said to contain Anwar's seminal fluids was dragged into the courtroom and key witnesses testified he had sex with women and men.
His former driver said he was Anwar's "sex slave."
The defence argued that Anwar was a devout Muslim, innocent of all charges and the victim of a political conspiracy to eliminate his challenge to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's 18-year leadership.
Police trucks with water cannons stood by to spray demonstrators if they attempted to come near the courthouse.
Days after he was fired on September 2, Anwar launched a nationwide tour calling for Mahathir's resignation.
From initial crowds of several hundred people in the backyard of his residence, Anwar mobilized tens of thousands of activists within two weeks.
Many Malaysians queued up outside the courthouse to hear the verdict.
They believe it is a landmark day in their country's political history.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Because I want to listen to the trial because I think it is the most important day in Malaysia."
SUPER CAPTION: Mohd Farid, Vox Pop
SOUNDBITE: (English)"For me it is very important to all Malaysians to listen to the result."
SUPER CAPTION: Mohd Diazreen, Vox Pop
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