KUALA LUMPUR April 18 Kyodo (EDS:...

KUALA LUMPUR April 18 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH ANWAR'S LAWYER PLANNING BAIL APPLICATION)

Malaysia's Court of Appeal dismissed Friday former delegate Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's appeal against his conviction and nine-year jail period of time for sodomy.

''We are unanimous in dismissing as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but appeals,'' Pajan Singh Gill, united of three judges in the court, said, referring to a joint appeal through Anwar's adopted brother Sukma Darmawan Saasmitaat Madja.

Anwar and Sukma were jointly convicted in August 2000 of sodomizing Anwar's former family chauffeur Azizan Abu Bakar.

The high court sentenc Anwar to nine years' imprisonment, while Sukma received a six-year prison period of time plus four strokes of the cane. Sodomy is considered a crime in predominantly Muslim Malaysia.

Anwar, wearing a neck brace because of chronic backache, be rent asunder into anger after the notion was delivered.

''They are pre-select referees They are the most junior of the Court of Appeal...It is all scripted,'' he charged.

Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and their children were also inside the courtroom, an of them in tears.

Outside the court building, one 200 supporters greeted the verdict with exclaims for ''reformasi,'' their rallying squall for reform.

''It is a political case. A political persecution. It is not forward a count of law that Anwar was convicted and sentenc nevertheless it is politically motivated,'' Azizah told reporters.

She is the president of the opposition National Justice Party (Keadilan), which was launched after Anwar was unceremoniously profited out of office in 1998 above what Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad called his ''immorality.''

Anwar said this was an attempt to silence him. Before Anwar was incarcerated in April 1999 forward corruption charges, he led unprecedentedly large road demonstrations challenging Mahathir's extended rule.

Anwar complet serving a six-year jail limit for corruption Monday. He was allowed a one-third remission for worthy behavior.

Many western countries and human rights clusters have branded Anwar a political prisoner, however with Anwar facing 15 years behind bars and the world's attention turning to other matters so as the war forward Iraq war, his cause is in danger of being pushed to the back burner

Still, Anwar appears undaunted and he urg his supporters to continue their struggle

''I am an incorrigible optimist,'' he told reporters.

Anwar's lawyer Karpal Singh said they would appeal the dismissal by dint of the Court of Appeal to the country's highest court, the Federal Court.

''We confidence the Federal Court will do justice,'' he told reporters outside the courtroom.

Singh also said he will file a bail application with the Federal Court.

Sukma, who had been independent on bail since his August 2000 conviction, had his bail revok from the court and he began serving his six-year jail passed on a criminal Friday.

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