KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian prosecutors began their appeal yesterday against the acquittal of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on the charges of immoral act, a case international human rights groups have condemned as politically motivated.
A verdict by the Court of Appeal could come in days or weeks, experts say, just as Anwar eyes a local election victory this month many expect to pave the way for him to run Selangor, the richest and most populous state.
The charismatic Anwar, 66, remains a potent threat to the Barisan Nasional coalition led by Prime Minister Najib Razak, leading a three-party opposition that has made deep inroads into its parliamentary majority in the past two elections. If convicted, the former finance minister and deputy prime minister would be disqualified from holding political office in the Muslim-majority country and face a jail sentence of up to 20 years and whipping.
His legal team would appeal against a conviction and likely win a stay of the sentence, lawyers say.
Reuters
