Скачать или смотреть MALAYSIA: POLICE CHIEF RESIGNS OVER ANWAR BEATING - UPDATE

(7 Jan 1999) English/Nat

Malaysia's top police official has resigned, taking responsibility for the beating of ousted Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim while in police custody.

The national news agency Bernama reported that the resignation of Inspector-General Abdul Rahim Noor will take effect on Friday.

Thursday's resignation comes the day after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said he may seek an independent investigation into the police beating of his sacked deputy.

Malaysia's top police chief Inspector-General Abdul Rahim Noor said he would take full responsibility for the beating of Anwar Ibrahim while in police custody.

His decision to step down comes 24 hours after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said he may seek an independent investigation into Anwar's police beating.

At this news conference in September 1998 - just after Anwar's arrest - the Inspector General gave his assurances that Anwar was in safe hands.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"He (Anwar) is within our custody. He is safe and sound - not to worry."
SUPER CAPTION: Abdul Rahim Noor, Inspector General of Police

Anwar was fired on September 2 1998 by the country's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad who said his right hand man was morally unfit to stay in government.

Anwar was arrested on September 20.

He then emerged with a black eye at a court appearance on September 30 - claiming he'd been beaten while in police custody.

The claims were denied by police who suggested the injury was self inflicted to win sympathy for Anwar's burgeoning political reform movement.

The government is trying to prove Anwar abused his power by trying to get police to cover up illegal sexual activities, including adultery and sodomy.

He faces 10 counts of corruption and illegal sex.

Anwar has denied the allegations and says he is the victim of a political conspiracy to undermine his challenge to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's 17-year leadership.

Inspector General Abdul Rahim has caused controversy in the past and refused questions from journalists about Anwar's detention.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"You shut up. You shut up. You shut up - you come from where?
Reporter (off camera): I come from the London Observer.
A: OK. Please arrange for him to come to my room.
Reporter: This is a press conference
A: Ah you stop. No more from you. OK, you (points to someone else.)"
SUPER CAPTION: Abdul Rahim Noor, Inspector General of Police

Anwar's trial continued on Thursday as the defence attempted to discredit a state DNA expert by grilling him on his training and knowledge of the field.

The team brought in two DNA specialists from Australia and Britain to observe the cross-examination of Dr. Lim Kong Boon and brief the defence on how to proceed.

State DNA expert Lim testified last week that semen stains on a mattress in an apartment where Anwar allegedly carried out his sexual trysts matched Anwar's DNA.

High Court Judge Augustine Paul ruled earlier in the trial, now in its third month, that the defence could not put foreign DNA experts on the stand.

But he allowed them to sit in the courtroom and observe the proceedings.

Lim also testified the stains matched the DNA of Shamsidar Taharin, the wife of Anwar's former private secretary, and of several other unidentified men and women.

The defence earlier had implied that police may have extracted semen from Anwar on the night of his arrest September 20, when he was beaten unconscious.


SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Raja Aziz Addruse, Defence Lawyer

Raja Aziz Addruse also commented on how long the proceedings would take.

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