Right of appeal?

Che Det Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Che Det

If the decision on January 9 had been that he was guilty, Anwar would surely have filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on whether Anwar Ibrahim and his supporters truly respect the right to appeal a court decision:

For almost four years we heard nothing but all kinds of appeals from Anwar during the trial of the case with Saiful.

At the outset it was his appeal to have the judge replaced, apparently for being biased. The trial had to be postponed for months to allow the courts to set a date to hear this appeal.

When the decision was not in his favour, Anwar made yet another appeal.

If the decision on January 9 had been that he was guilty, Anwar would surely have filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal.

And if the Court of Appeal concurred with the High Court, Anwar then would appeal to the Federal Court.

If the Federal Court upheld the decisions of the two lower courts, we could expect Anwar to ask that his case be heard by a Special Court.

But when Anwar was found not guilty for lack of corroborative evidence, suddenly the right of Saiful to appeal is being questioned.

“Or is it that a senior opposition politician in this country has special rights and proclaims there is justice only when a court rules in his favour?