Sodomy II: CJ gives approval to 14 independent observers to attend proceedings

PUTRAJAYA: More than 14 independent observers, including representatives from six high commissions and embassies in Malaysia, are here to hear the appeal of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy II case at the Federal Court.

The court’s corporate communications and international relations division head Mohd Aizuddin Zolkeply said the Chief Justice had approved their requests to attend the proceedings.

“It is to give them an opportunity to know the truth and hear the proceedings on their own,” he said here yesterday.

The observers include Queen Counsel Mark Trowell, who is appearing for the Law Council of Australia, the Law Association for Asia and the Pacific (Lawasia) and the Inter Parliamentary Union, and Danthong Breen for the Union for Civil Liberty and International Federation of Human Rights.

Commissioner Elizabeth Evatt and international legal adviser Emerlynne Ablaza Gil were in court for the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) while Sofia Tilotta and Ivo Apostolov are representatives for the European Union Delegation to Malaysia.

Also at the proceedings were Ravi Manickam and Seth Blaylock from the United States’ Embassy, and Elizabeth Wright, Patrick Hill, Caitlin Jensen for the Australian High Commission.

Other representatives who showed up were from the British High Commission, the Canadian High Commission, the New Zealand High Commission and the International Bar Association.

ICJ Commissioner Evatt said they were attending the appeal to ensure that a procedure for fair trial was observed.

“I have been to the Court of Appeal for his (Anwar’s) case. This is my fourth visit,” she said.

“ICJ is interested in this case.”

Breen, who had also observed Anwar’s previous appeal hearings in February and March, said it was “really a complex case”.

“And this time, it is more detailed than before,” he added.

-thestar