From Malaysiakini, excerpts :
In a 2-1 decision, the country’s highest court today set former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim free after quashing his sodomy conviction. Also freed was his adopted brother Sukma Darmawan Sasmitaat Madja who had been convicted of the same offence.
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Anwar, upon hearing the judgment, gave his family and reporters a tired smile.
Later, he thanked Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for not interfering in the judiciary, unlike his predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Anwar also brushed aside rumours of a secret deal with Abdullah which resulted in today’s decision
Meanwhile, outside the court, Anwar’s supporters were seen hugging and shouting in jubilation.
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He is expected to fly to Munich, Germany later in the week for an urgent operation to treat a long standing spinal disc injury, which he said was aggravated by a police beating after his arrest in 1998.
Anwar’s appeal on both conviction and sentencing was made on the grounds that the conduct of the High Court trial four years ago was deeply flawed.
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Timeline for Anwar's case
source : The Straits Times, Singapore
Sept 2, 1998: Then Prime Minister Dr Mahathir fires Anwar from the Cabinet after an economic policy dispute.
Sept 20, 1998: Anwar is arrested hours after he leads a protest demanding that Dr Mahathir resign.
Sept 29, 1998: Anwar appears in court and pleads innocent to corruption and sodomy charges.
Nov 2, 1998: Anwar's trial on four counts of corruption opens.
April 14, 1999: Anwar is convicted and sentenced to six years in prison.
June 6, 1999: Sodomy trial opens.
Aug 8, 2000: Anwar is found guilty of sodomy and sentenced to nine years in prison, to begin after completion of six-year corruption punishment.
Nov 25, 2000: Anwar is temporarily hospitalised for a back injury he blames partly on a police beating after his arrest.
July 10, 2002: A three-judge panel in Malaysia's highest Federal Court unanimously upholds the corruption conviction and six-year prison sentence.
April 14, 2003: Anwar begins serving the nine-year sodomy sentence after the corruption term is reduced by one-third for good behavior.
Oct 31, 2003: Dr Mahathir retires and hands power to new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Sept 2, 2004: A Federal Court panel overturns Anwar's sodomy conviction and sets aside the sentence, freeing him. Family members said he would travel to Germany for back surgery.
Hope his surgery will be successful...