Sodomy 11 trial is damaging to Malaysia

Anwar Sodomy Trial is Fundamentally Wrong

| author: Hawkeye

Channel News Asia

Malaysia is wooing British tycoon Sir Richard Branson to be part of the country's multi-billion-dollar economic transformation programme.


The founder of the Virgin Group is positive about Malaysia's investment outlook. But he said the ongoing sodomy trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is damaging the country's reputation.

Sir Richard Branson has a huge following in Malaysia. To many young entrepreneurs, the 60-year-old tycoon is an inspiration, which was why they paid top dollar to attend his session at a conference on alternative investments in Kuala Lumpur.

The Malaysian government, which recently launched its 10-year economic transformation programme, hopes the Virgin empire Sir Richard Branson founded will also look to invest in the country.
Dr Jalilah Baba, director general of Malaysian Investment Development Authority, said: "We would like to work with him on a few programmes to attract investments here, either his direct investments or in terms of funding or in terms of technology."

Already, Sir Richard Branson is talking about opening up hotels in major cities in Asia under the Virgin brand.
He said: "We are going to try to create Virgin city hotels, very much in the spirit of Virgin. I am sure we will be doing some in this region."

The tycoon also called on the Malaysian government to take bold steps to liberalise its economy, with the government cutting back its role in order to stay competitive in the global market.

Sir Richard Branson is also positive about Malaysia's investment outlook. But he added that the sodomy trial of Anwar is doing the country a disservice.
He said: "I hope the case gets dropped. The case is fundamentally wrong and it does not make Malaysia look good in the world map.''

The authorities have downplayed his remark, saying it is his personal opinion. They added that Malaysia is committed to political and economic liberalisation.

Dr Jalilah Baba said: ''In order to comment (on) whether you should drop it (the Anwar case) or not, you should know all the facts of the matter, you should study all the facts of the matter.''

Judge rapped overzealous prosecutors

Judge critical of prosecutors in Anna Nicole trial

September 28, 2010

Defendants Howard K. Stern (left), Dr. Khristine Eroshevich (centre) and Dr. Sandeep Kapoor are shown in a combination photo during their arraignment at the Los Angeles County Criminal Courts building in Los Angeles, California, in this May 13, 2009 file photo. - Reuters pic

LOS ANGELES, Sept 28 — The judge in the Anna Nicole Smith drug trial slammed prosecutors yesterday for their aggressive pursuit of convictions against three people accused of plying the actress with prescription drugs before her 2007 death. Earlier yesterday, both sides rested their cases after a nearly two-month trial that saw prosecutors bring numerous witnesses whose testimony defence attorneys largely sought to discredit. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Perry characterised the case as a “kitchen-sink prosecution” in which numerous claims and evidence are put forth “against these defendants in the hope that something survives.”
The judge’s comments came as he considered dismissing or reducing some of the charges against the realty TV star’s one-time boyfriend and lawyer, Howard K. Stern, and two of her doctors, Khristine Eroshevich and Sandeep Kapoor.
Closing arguments are set to begin Thursday and jury deliberations may start early next week.
Prosecutors allege Stern, Eroshevich and Kapoor conspired to funnel prescription drugs to a known addict, Smith, who died in February 2007 in Florida from an accidental drug overdose at age 39. They are not charged with directly causing her death.
Still, Perry’s comments seem to underpin weeks of reports that prosecutors were having a difficult time proving their case. The judge said yesterday that many of the charges should have been misdemeanors, as opposed to the felonies that carry higher penalties.
“The prosecution had a dead celebrity and a lot of low-level misdemeanors” from which they tried to build a case for more serious crimes, Perry said.
But Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney defended prosecutors by saying their two-year investigation convinced them that felonies had been committed.
For much of the afternoon, lawyers discussed the meaning of words like “addict,” “addiction” and “pain” that the judge will use when instructing the jury on deliberations.
Prosecutors have argued that the defendants unlawfully prescribed or obtained controlled substances that fuelled Smith’s addiction over a three-year period when she was known to be a drug addict.
Defence attorneys have countered that Smith was not an addict, but was a sufferer of chronic pain since 2000. She also battled anxiety, depression and lack of sleep. — Reuters