Malaysia's sacked finance minister, Mr Anwar Ibrahim, scored a point in his corruption and sex trial in Kuala Lumpur yesterday when the judge agreed to consider rejecting the testimony of a witness who had accused Mr Anwar of sodomy.
High Court Judge Augustine Paul allowed consideration of a defence request that testimony by Mr Anwar's former driver be disqualified on the grounds that the prosecution witness had contradicted himself in evidence.
Mr Anwar's victory could prove short-lived because the judge said the defence request was fraught with problems. "In my opinion, this application is riddled with more breaches than with compliance to the law relating to impeachment," the judge said.
The court then began hearing the defence move to impeach the former driver, Mr Azizan Abu, Bakar before adjourning.
One of Mr Anwar's lawyers, Mr Christopher Fernando, said he expected a verdict tomorrow.
Mr Anwar was sacked in September and later indicted on five counts each of corruption and sodomy. He has pleaded not guilty.
His trial, now in its fifth week, is at the heart of civil unrest in Malaysia where Mr Anwar's supporters have mounted sporadic demonstrations against the Prime Minister, Mr Mahathir Mohamad.
