Anwar defence lawyers want Malaysia PM as witness

Anwar defence lawyers want Malaysia PM as witness
REUTERS

KUALA LUMPUR, FEBRUARY 9: The defence in the sex trial of former Malaysian finance minister Anwar Ibrahim said today it planned to call Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as a witness within the next week.

``We plan to call the PM by Friday, after we finish with two more witnesses,'' Jagdeep Singh Deo, one of Anwar's lawyers, told Reuters during a break in the 8-1/2-month old trial that has exposed political divisions in Malaysia.

``The subpoena has been served,'' Jagdeep said. ``He (Mahathir) is on standby. They (prosecution) have not disputed it.''

But another lawyer said it could take longer before the Prime Minister appeared.

``It could take another week before we call him as there are other matters for us to sort out first,'' defence lawyer S N Nair said without elaborating.

An appearance by Mahathir in the high court trial would mark the first time the two men have been seen together in many years. It would also throw a spotlight on Anwar's trial, which has fallen somewhat out of thepublic eye after months of testimony.

Mahathir sacked his former heir-apparent in September 1998. He later said Anwar was morally unfit and accused his ex-protege of trying to topple his government.