Judge Arifin Jaka announced to a packed court that he found both Anwar and his co-accused Sukma Darmawan guilty as charged.

Defence lawyers were granted a brief recess to prepare arguments in mitigation before sentencing. The charge is punishable by up to 20 years' jail.

Some 500 police -- backed up by a dog unit, mounted police and a water cannon -- were on duty around the city centre court. No immediate trouble was reported.

Anwar, who appeared calm, hugged his wife and one of his daughters after the verdict.

"I cannot blame (Arifin), he is following orders," he said. "You have to be realistic."

Anwar, 52, says he is the victim of a political conspiracy masterminded by veteran Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

He is already serving a six-year jail term passed in April 1999 for abusing his official powers to cover up allegations of sexual misconduct.

"I'm shocked. I can't believe it," lead defence counsel Christopher Fernando told reporters before the court adjourned.

"Based on the evidence and facts I'm absolutely flabbergasted by the decision, that he can be convicted with this kind of evidence."

Anwar and Sukma, his 39-year-old adoptive brother, were convicted of sodomising Azizan Abu Bakar, a former Anwar family chauffeur, between January and March 1993.

Sukma was also convicted of abetting Anwar in committing sodomy, seen as a serious crime in this mainly Muslim country.

Sukma could be ordered whipped with a cane for the offence in addition to a jail term. The punishment is not imposed on men aged over 50.

Prosecutors had twice changed the year of the charge before settling on 1993.

Judge Arifin said Azizan had been cross-examined for 10 days "and he came out unscathed. There were some discrepancies but it was explained.

"There is no necessity for Azizan to lie. He has nothing to gain and everything to lose by coming out with this conflict and telling the whole world he was sodomised."

Arifin said Azizan's evidence was corroborated by Sukma's confession of sodomy. Sukma had retracted that confession, which he says was forced out of him by police.

Arifin said Anwar's alibi defence "in my mind is incomplete and therefore fails." Anwar, he said, could not give alibi evidence from January 1-February 4 in 1993.

Referring to Anwar's claims of conspiracy, Arifin said: "I am of the view that it is not an issue in this case and therefore irrelevant.

"For the above reasons I'm satisfied the prosecution has proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. I therefore find both accused guilty as charged."

Malaysian riot police on stand-by are ready for action as they guard infront of the federal court where the verdict of ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim will be delivered in Kuala Lumpur, 08 August 2000. About 500 police staged a major show of force to deter any protests as Anwar Ibrahim arrived at the city centre court complex in an unmarked police van escorted by two police motorbikes and four other police vehicles, for the verdict in his marathon sex trial. Photo by Roslan Rahman - copyright AFP 2000

Riot police and paramilitaries were among hundreds of police around the colonial-era courthouse. A helicopter hovered overhead.

About 1,000 people gathered in Merdeka (Freedom) Square opposite the court but there were no immediate reports of trouble.

Police arrested two people, including Tian Chua, vice-president of the National Justice Party founded by Anwar's wife. He was carried away after lying down to resist arrest.

"Our family will remain united in support of Anwar," his elder brother Idrus Ibrahim told AFP.

"We know he is innocent. We thank all friends for their support.

"As a fighter he accepted the verdict bravely...we will try to console the younger members of the family."

Two of Anwar's six children, dressed in school uniforms, were seen being brought into the court.

Anwar had hugged his elderly mother as he came into the court before the verdict was given. "It's going to be a conviction. I can sense it," he told reporters.

"It's a black day for justice in Malaysia," said Mahfuz Omar, youth chief of the opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia.

"The decision is a shame to the people of Malaysia...the people and the nation will have to bear the consequences."

Boycott Malaysia Now!
As a publisher of SpaceDaily I enjoy the rare opportunity to use the media to promote my opinions and beliefs. As such it my opinion that Malaysia should be isolated and that both individuals and companies should reassess doing business with Malaysia until democracy is returned to what was until recently one of the great successes of Asia in the post colonial era. Regards,.. Simon Mansfield - Feedback

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