opposition leader in Malaysia is acquitted of sodomy

The High Court of Malaysia on Monday acquitted former deputy prime minister and opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim , a crime of sodomy punishable by the laws of the country with up to 20 years in prison.

Zabidin Mohamad Diah The judge ruled in favor of Anwar after rejecting DNA evidence by the prosecution, prompting jubilation among the thousands of supporters of opposition leader waiting in court.

"Thank God, justice has been done," said the former deputy prime minister after the verdict, according to local newspaper The Sta "." In the upcoming election, you will hear the voice of the people and this corrupt government will fall from the podium power, "he said later in his Twitter account.

Anwar, 64, was accused of having sex during the 2008 campaign with Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan , an aide who was 22 when he filed the complaint in June of that year.

"After reviewing the evidence , the court can not be one hundred percent sure that the DNA samples have not been manipulated, "said the judge read the verdict, according to The Star . "The court is left with only the testimony of Saiful . And it is a sexual crime, the court is opposed to issuing a conviction basándonse in Saiful's testimony, without corroboration, "said Mohamad Zabidin.

On February 1, the alleged victim testified on the stand about his relationship with the defendant, who was personal assistant, June 26, 2008 in a hotel room.

According to witnesses in the room, the leader of the opposition expressed surprise by the acquittal and said his priority now is to work to win the next election.

This second trial began in 2009 and the prosecution presented 27 witnesses to prove that the accused had sex with Mohd Saiful Bukhari Malaysia's Azlan.

On the other hand, three explosions were heard in the parking lot of the Court, where protests were held, and two people were injured, without yet been established guilty.

"Political maneuver"

Anwar, who has pleaded not guilty, maintains that this is another political move to send him to prison, which began more than a decade. In 1998, Anwar served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance when he was dismissed, expelled from the party and arrested on charges of abuse of power and sodomy.

Ibrahim, exviceprimer Minister of Malaysia, has been tried and charged with this crime repeatedly , even to being imprisoned.