UMNO'S ATTACKS UPON MY LAWYER IS AN ORCHESTRATED ATTEMPT TO INTERFERE WITH FITNAH 2 APPEAL IN FED COURT
On 14th August 2014, the Federal Court fixed 28 and 29th October 2014 for hearing of my appeal against the Fitnah II conviction by the Court of Appeal. This is my final legal recourse against the unjust and politically motivated Fitnah 2 conviction.
Since the fixing of the appeal dates, Umno has orchestrated the making of hundreds of police reports by Umno divisions nationwide against N Surendran, who is my lawyer in the Fitnah 2 appeal. Among others, top Umno leader Mukhriz Mahathir has publicly called upon all Umno divisions to lodge police reports, whereas Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia's editorial has called for immediate action against my lawyer.
The excuse for this campaign of intimidation against my lawyer is that he had said in a press conference after attending case management for the appeal that the charges against me are a political conspiracy involving Prime Minister Najib Razak.
My lawyer has the right and the duty to speak of Najib's involvement in the Fitnah 2 conspiracy to jail me. The involvement of Najib in this conspiracy was one my main defences during the trial at the High Court; and will be raised extensively in my appeal in the Federal Court on 28 and 29 October 2014.
On 14th August 2014, the Federal Court fixed 28 and 29th October 2014 for hearing of my appeal against the Fitnah II conviction by the Court of Appeal. This is my final legal recourse against the unjust and politically motivated Fitnah 2 conviction.
Since the fixing of the appeal dates, Umno has orchestrated the making of hundreds of police reports by Umno divisions nationwide against N Surendran, who is my lawyer in the Fitnah 2 appeal. Among others, top Umno leader Mukhriz Mahathir has publicly called upon all Umno divisions to lodge police reports, whereas Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia's editorial has called for immediate action against my lawyer.
The excuse for this campaign of intimidation against my lawyer is that he had said in a press conference after attending case management for the appeal that the charges against me are a political conspiracy involving Prime Minister Najib Razak.
My lawyer has the right and the duty to speak of Najib's involvement in the Fitnah 2 conspiracy to jail me. The involvement of Najib in this conspiracy was one my main defences during the trial at the High Court; and will be raised extensively in my appeal in the Federal Court on 28 and 29 October 2014.
Anwar Ibrahim and wife Wan Azizah
The evidence of Najib’s involvement is clear and shocking. Najib had met with the accuser Saiful on 24 June 2008, which is two days before Saiful claims the alleged incident took place.
When asked about it, Najib initially lied that only his officer met Saiful supposedly regarding a scholarship. Later, Najib changed his story and admitted meeting Saiful at his residence.
The meeting was set up by Najib's own special officer Khairil Anas. Najib's personal lawyer, who is now prosecuting me, Shafee Abdullah has also admitted that he was present.
Top policeman SAC Datuk Rodwan, who was involved in the Fitnah 1 conspiracy in 1998, also met Saiful the same evening of the meeting with Najib. Saiful was also in contact with then IGP Musa Hassan. Musa was deeply involved in the 1998 conspiracy as the investigating officer.
This is blatant conspiracy staring us in the face!
Ignoring all this, the court of appeal perversely decided to convict me on 7 March 2014, on the eve of the Kajang move.
Now, Umno is going all out to prevent my lawyers from even mentioning Najib's involvement in this conspiracy.
In my statement from the dock which I read out during the trial, I have said :
“This entire process is nothing but a conspiracy by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to send me into political oblivion by attempting once again to put me behind bars.”
“Najib Razak is doing the same thing as his mentor did, which is to employ all means within his power through the media, the police, the Attorney-General and the judiciary in order to subvert the course of justice and to take me out of the political equation.”
How is it a crime for my lawyer to state to the public this essential ground of my defence in the Fitnah 2 appeal?
The meeting was set up by Najib's own special officer Khairil Anas. Najib's personal lawyer, who is now prosecuting me, Shafee Abdullah has also admitted that he was present.
Top policeman SAC Datuk Rodwan, who was involved in the Fitnah 1 conspiracy in 1998, also met Saiful the same evening of the meeting with Najib. Saiful was also in contact with then IGP Musa Hassan. Musa was deeply involved in the 1998 conspiracy as the investigating officer.
This is blatant conspiracy staring us in the face!
Ignoring all this, the court of appeal perversely decided to convict me on 7 March 2014, on the eve of the Kajang move.
Now, Umno is going all out to prevent my lawyers from even mentioning Najib's involvement in this conspiracy.
In my statement from the dock which I read out during the trial, I have said :
“This entire process is nothing but a conspiracy by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to send me into political oblivion by attempting once again to put me behind bars.”
“Najib Razak is doing the same thing as his mentor did, which is to employ all means within his power through the media, the police, the Attorney-General and the judiciary in order to subvert the course of justice and to take me out of the political equation.”
How is it a crime for my lawyer to state to the public this essential ground of my defence in the Fitnah 2 appeal?
PM Najib
I believe the top Umno leadership is involved in orchestrating this campaign of intimidation. The intention is to prevent me from getting a fair hearing during the appeal on 28 and 29 October, and to cover-up Najib and Umno's role in the conspiracy.
These attacks upon my lawyer Surendran are a clear and blatant interference by Umno in the pending appeal, as it is a direct attempt to prevent the ground of conspiracy from being raised by my lawyers.
I call upon Najib and Umno to stop this interference with the legal process; there must be no pressure, direct or otherwise, upon the lawyers and the courts. If the legal process is allowed to function independently and impartially, I am confident of being acquitted. With this latest move, Umno and Najib show no sign of allowing this to happen.
Issued by,
Anwar bin Ibrahim
Leader of the Opposition
These attacks upon my lawyer Surendran are a clear and blatant interference by Umno in the pending appeal, as it is a direct attempt to prevent the ground of conspiracy from being raised by my lawyers.
I call upon Najib and Umno to stop this interference with the legal process; there must be no pressure, direct or otherwise, upon the lawyers and the courts. If the legal process is allowed to function independently and impartially, I am confident of being acquitted. With this latest move, Umno and Najib show no sign of allowing this to happen.
Issued by,
Anwar bin Ibrahim
Leader of the Opposition
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