Saiful’s father pleads with A-G to appeal sodomy verdict

UPDATED @ 06:24:09 PM 11-01-2012

By Clara Chooi

January 11, 2012

 

Azlan Mohd Lazim vowed today that he will “fight to the end” to seek justice for his son. — Picture by Jack Ooi

PETALING JAYA, Jan 11 — Azlan Mohd Lazim, the father of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy accuser Saiful Bukhairi Azlan, pleaded with the Attorney-General (A-G) today to appeal Monday’s court verdict, vowing he will “fight to the end” to seek justice for his son. 

 

The 58-year-old government pensioner repeatedly slammed the Bar Council for urging the prosecution to do otherwise, pointing out that it was his son’s constitutional right to seek an appeal.

“For the sake of my son, I plead with the A-G to appeal the decision. It is hoped that the A-G’s Chambers would not be influenced by the Bar Council or any other party,” he told a press conference at his residence here this evening.

“As a father, I will continue to stand by my son and continue this struggle to ensure he gets the justice he deserves in order to return honour to his name and the family.

“We will fight to the end — that is my promise,” he added.

Anwar, the 64-year-old leader of opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat (PR), was on Monday acquitted of a sodomy charge when trial judge Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah ruled that the prosecution had not done enough to prove he had committed the act on Mohd Saiful, his former aide.

The judge noted the lack of full disclosure, as well as the unreliability of both the DNA evidence presented and the prosecution team’s key witness, Saiful.

Since the acquittal, much focus has been on the 26-year-old Saiful and whether the prosecution in the case would appeal the verdict, which is said to be a boost to the opposition pact.

Under heavy fire from Anwar’s supporters, Saiful has since taken to social media channels Twitter and Facebook to voice his thoughts.

“My family and I hope the prosecution will bring this case to the Appeals Court,” he had said.

Azlan was critical of Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee for saying the High Court ruled fairly in the case. — file pic

The Attorney-General has about two weeks to decide if they plan to appeal the High Court’s acquittal of Anwar. They have not said anything on that score.

 

But Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee disagreed with the family, saying the High Court had ruled fairly in the case, and based his decision on the principles of natural justice.

“The case has unnecessarily taken up judicial time and public funds,” he said in a statement today, adding the law “criminalises” sexual relations between two consenting adults.

“I am greatly disappointed with the council’s statement. To me, the statement is seen as a move to deny a citizen’s right to an appeal.

“The council should be neutral,” Azlan said today.

He pointed out that Anwar himself had filed a total of 36 appeals during the ongoing case and was never advised against doing so.

“Is it because my son is not a VIP or a politician, therefore his right is denied?” he said.

Azlan added that his family would wait until the 14-day appeal window is over before deciding whether to mount further legal proceedings against Anwar.

Meanwhile, he said his family accepts the court’s decision, adding that Saiful remains in good health.