Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was convicted for sodomy, will soon find out the verdict. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 10, 2015.The Federal Court will deliver its ruling soon on the appeal by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was convicted for sodomy, Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria said.He said usually a notice would be sent to parties at least two weeks before the court delivered its verdict in a criminal or civil cases."A notice will be given soon. It will be out soon," he said after opening the judiciary’s Legal Year in Putrajaya today.Arifin, who led a five-man bench to hear the appeal last October, said this in response to questions when the court would deliver the much-awaited ruling involving the opposition leader.The appeal hearing started on October 28 and ended on November 7.Arifin was also asked whether Anwar's sodomy decision would adhere to a circular that judges should deliver their written grounds within three months after hearing submissions.The top judge said it had only been two months since the bench heard submissions and as such they were still well within time.Arifin was previously quoted by Bernama as saying that while judges were expected to complete their decision within three months, the Court of Appeal and Federal Court may take up to six months, if a case was complex.The Federal Court, which heard the prosecution's appeal against the acquittal of two former special action unit (UTK) personnel on a charge of murdering Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, will deliver its ruling on Tuesday.Arifin, who also chaired a five-man panel, heard the appeal for three days from June 23 last year and reserved their decision.On March 7, the Court of Appeal overturned the January 9, 2012 High Court decision in acquitting Anwar on a charge of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.He committed the offence at a unit of the Desa Damansara condominium in Bukit Damansara, between 3.10pm and 4.30pm, on June 26, 2008.The three-member Court of Appeal panel chaired by Datuk Balia Yusof Wahi sentenced Anwar to five years' jail, but granted him a stay on the sentence pending his appeal to the Federal Court.Anwar is now on RM10,000 bail in one surety.The prosecution has also filed a cross-appeal for a higher jail sentence against Anwar.Anwar's political career as an elected representative will end if the Federal Court upholds the appellate court’s decision, as he will be disqualified from office if fined more than RM2,000 or jailed more than year. – January 10, 2015.
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