BBC News Online: World: Asia-Pacific


Front Page | World | UK | UK Politics | Business | Sci/Tech | Health | Education | Sport | Entertainment | Talking Point | High Graphics | Feedback | Help | Noticias | Newyddion |
Wednesday, December 30, 1998 Published at 13:13 GMT

Anwar trial hears DNA evidence


Anwar trial hears DNA evidence
A government chemist has told Malaysia's sex-and-corruption trial that a mattress produced in court had been stained with semen from the former Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim.

Malaysia Crisis Section
Lim Kong Boon said DNA tests showed that some of 13 sexual fluid stains found on the mattress belonged to Mr Anwar and the wife of his former private secretary.

He said stains from another male and two other women were also found on the mattress.

The prosecution says the grey-coloured mattress came from an apartment where Mr Anwar is alleged to have taken the wife of his former secretary for sex.

The mattress was carried into court two weeks ago, wrapped in brown paper.

It had 13 holes cut in it which Assistant Commissioner of Police Musa Hassan said had been where samples had been taken for comparison with samples of DNA taken from Mr Anwar.

The apartment from where the mattress was taken was the property of a company belonging to Mr Anwar's former tennis partner Solaimalai Nallakaruppan, who faces charges in a separate case of illegally possessing ammunition - a charge that carries a mandatory death sentence.

Police say they found the ammunition while investigating allegations contained in the book "Fifty Reasons Why Anwar Cannot Become Prime Minister" that Mr Nallakaruppan had arranged sexual liaisons for Mr Anwar.

Mr Anwar, who until recently was seen as the natural successor to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, has pleaded not guilty to five counts each of corruption and illegal sex acts, saying he was framed by political opponents out to destroying his career.

Sodomy charges

A Malaysian doctor appearing as a prosecution witness told the court on Tuesday there was no evidence that Mr Anwar's adopted brother, Sukma Darmawan, had been sodomised.

Mr Sukma and Mr Anwar's speechwriter, Munawar Anees, were convicted in September of allowing themselves to be sodomised by the former deputy premier between March 1993 and April 1998.

They were both sentenced to six months in jail a day before Mr Anwar was himself arrested.

But Dr Zahari Noor told the court he found "no evidence of anal intercourse" when he examined Mr Sukma in early September.


Asia-Pacific Contents

Country profiles

Relevant Stories

Doctor: No evidence Anwar's brother sodomised (29 Dec 98 | Asia-Pacific)
Anwar's message for justice (25 Dec 98 | Asia-Pacific)
Anwar trial halted over police action (24 Dec 98 | Asia-Pacific)
Mattress adds new twist to Anwar trial (15 Dec 98 | Asia-Pacific)

Internet Links

Anwar Online
Malaysian Prime Minister's Office
Munawar Anees - Anwar co-defendant

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

In this section

Indonesia rules out Aceh independence
DiCaprio film trial begins
Millennium sect heads for the hills
Uzbekistan voices security concerns
Chinese imports boost US trade gap (From Business)
ICRC visits twelve Burmese jails
Falintil guerillas challenge East Timor peackeepers
Malaysian candidates named
North Korea expels US 'spy'
Holbrooke to arrive in Indonesia
China warns US over Falun Gong
Thais hand back Cambodian antiques


Front Page | World | UK | UK Politics | Business | Sci/Tech | Health | Education | Sport | Entertainment | Talking Point | High Graphics | Feedback | Help | Noticias | Newyddion |


Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | ©