Malaysian police on Wednesday began an investigation into opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's report alleging that the country's police chief and attorney general were involved in falsely charging him with corruption and sodomy in 1998."We have received the report and have begun preliminary investigations," said a police spokesman.
"We are aware that there are high profile people involved, but it doesn't make a difference because we will conduct the investigations professionally," he said on condition of anonymity.
On Tuesday, Anwar, who is battling fresh allegations over the weekend of sodomy by a male aide, filed a police report alleging that national police chief Musa Hassan and Attorney General Gani Patail "were actively involved" in falsely charging the former deputy prime minister.
Anwar challenged those in the police force to be "brave enough to stand up and investigate these two very high profile individuals." Police chief Musa told reporters Wednesday that he would cooperate in investigations, adding that he had no plans to file a counter suit against Anwar.
"I don't want to make any comment on the matter. Let the probe be carried out on the allegation made by Anwar Ibrahim," he was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.
On Saturday, a former assistant lodged a report claiming that Anwar had sodomised him. The aide is now in police custody for protection and to assist investigations, said authorities. Anwar has hit back at the accusations as a "desperate attempt" by his foes to put an end to his rising political status as opposition leader.
"It is a repeat of what happened 10 years ago, but this time, I am fighting back with calm and wisdom," he said. Sodomy is punishable by up to 15 years' imprisonment in the predominantly Muslim country. Former premier Mahathir Mohamad fired Anwar 10 years ago amid the corruption and sodomy accusations. He was convicted on both charges, but the sodomy conviction was subsequently overturned and he was released from prison in 2004.
Anwar, 60, has maintained the sodomy and corruption charges were trumped up to prevent a political challenge to then premier Mahathir. Late Tuesday, close to 10,000 supporters gathered in a stadium to listen to Anwar give a speech in which he pledged to soldier on in spite of the fresh allegations.
The charismatic leader said the opposition would take over the government soon, and promised to set right the problems plaguing the country, including bringing down fuel prices, which were raised by a whopping 41 per cent last month.
Anwar has said he was due to announce plans to re-enter parliament through a by-election as well as announce the defection of four government lawmakers to the opposition. However, he said the recent chain of events would delay the announcements.
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