|
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian authorities on Wednesday summoned opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to court to face a sodomy charge, complicating his bid to return to Parliament in a by-election less than three weeks away.
Police went to Anwar's home to serve an order for him to appear in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Thursday morning to face the charge, party officials and police said.
A 23-year-old male aide claimed Anwar had sodomised him in June. Anwar insists the allegation was fabricated to thwart his plan of seizing power from the government by mid-September. The government denies a conspiracy.
If the court refuses to release Anwar on bail pending a trial, it would prevent him from campaigning in the August 26 by-election for a parliamentary seat that his wife vacated last week. Anwar would still be allowed to contest the seat.
Anwar's attorney, Sankara Nair, said the police letter informed Anwar that he must come to court "to answer charges," though no details were provided.
National deputy police chief Ismail Omar said in a statement the attorney general's office had decided to charge Anwar after police "completed their investigation into a criminal sex case involving intercourse against the laws of nature."
|
