Ibrahim demands 'biased' Malaysian HC judge to recuse himself from sodomy trial

Kuala Lumpur, June 3 (ANI): Former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has filed an application demanding High Court judge Justice Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah to recuse himself from hearing his ongoing sodomy trial because he is allegedly 'biased'.

In the application filed yesterday, Anwar demanded Zabidin to recuse himself and allow another judge to preside over his trial, The Star reports.

The paper quoted his lead counsel Karpal Singh as saying that the judge had "pre-judged the case" by ruling that he found complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan to be an honest witness.

In his ruling on May 16, Justice Mohd Zabidin had said that he found Mohd Saiful's evidence "reliable, and if accepted would establish all the facts required to prove the charge against the accused".

Anwar claimed, the judge had made a "conclusive finding" and that the prosecution had "proved their case beyond reasonable doubt" when the matter was still only at the end of the prosecution's case.

This is the third time that Anwar has applied to disqualify the judge in his trial.

On Aug 7, 2008, Anwar had pleaded not guilty to performing carnal intercourse against the order of nature on Saiful at a condominium unit in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur on June 26, the same year.

He is charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code and faces up to 20 years in jail and whipping.

Anwar's application has been fixed to be heard on Monday. (ANI)