Court lifts gag order over AG's role

The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court has lifted a gag order that prevented the media from publishing details of attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail’s alleged involvement in tampering with evidence in Anwar Ibrahim’s trials 10 years ago.

Sessions judge SM Komathy Suppiah ruled today that the details, which had been read out in court yesterday, are admissable in the ongoing proceedings to hear the validity of a transfer order signed by Abdul Gani.

Anwar had claimed trial on Aug 7 to a charge of sodomising his former personal aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 23.

The prosecution is attempting to move the case to the High Court, but the defence team is resisting this, allegedly due to fear of political interference in the outcome.

During submissions yesterday, Anwar's lawyer Sulaiman Abdullah (right) had made startling revelations on Abdul Gani’s alleged involvement based on a court document by police personnel Mat Zain Ibrahim, who was involved in the investigation of Anwar’s ‘black eye’ incident in 1998.

Mat Zain provided details of serious allegations of prosecutorial misconduct on the part of Abdul Gani in the case.

However, the details were disputed by lead prosecutor Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, who said these should not be reported by the press until the evidence is ruled admissible by the court, or it could tarnish the AG’s name.

The court, which sat this morning, also adjourned the proceedings to Oct 31 to accommodate Anwar’s presence in Parliament when it reconvenes on Monday.

Anwar was elected to the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in a by-election on Aug 26 and is now the opposition leader.

[Full report to follow]