Anwar remains in jail

PUTRAJAYA: Former Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) on Wednesday failed in his bid to review his Sodomy II conviction after the Federal Court dismissed his application.

Anwar had filed 35 grounds in his petition of appeal asking the Federal Court to overturn the Court of Appeal’s ruling.

Chief Judge of Malaya Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin rejected Anwar's application on grounds that there was no merits in his application. Justice Zulkefli said their decision was unanimous.

Anwar told reporters later from the dock that he would discuss with his legal team for the next cause of action. "It is not end of the road", he said.

Others on the panel were Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Justice Richard Malanjum, Justices Hasan Lah, Abu Samah Nordin and Zaharah Ibrahim.

Anwar was represented by counsels Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, N. Surendran, Ramkarpal Singh, Latheefa Koya and Shahid Adli Kamaruddin.

Deputy Public Prosecutor team was headed by Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid with Tengku Amir Zaki Tengku Abdul Rahman and Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin.

Also present in court were Anwar's wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, his daughters Nurul Nuha and Nurul Ilham and grandchildren.

On Feb 10, last year, the Federal Court upheld the Court of Appeal's decision in convicting Anwar of sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

The Court of Appeal’s decision was delivered on Mar 7, 2014.

In its 85-page written judgment, the panel had overturned an earlier acquittal by the High Court.

Anwar, 69, was sentenced to five years’ jail for sodomising Mohd Saiful Bukhari, 30, at Desa Damansara condominium in Bukit Damansara on June 26, 2008.

He is currently serving the sentence at the Sungai Buloh prison.