Corruption charges against the ousted deputy prime minister Mr Anwar Ibrahim were amended yesterday, shifting the emphasis away from sexual misconduct to the abuse of power. The defence threatened to call the Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to testify.
Judge Augustine Paul allowed the changes ruling that they were not significant. But Mr Anwar, who has alleged he is the victim of a political conspiracy, accused the prosecution of making the amendments because it could not prove the charges.
"They have already stripped me naked. Now they are amending the charges. They cannot prove . . . they change," he told reporters in the court.
In a statement read later by his wife, Azizah, Mr Anwar said the amendments would not "mask the truth".
Mr Anwar (51) is on trial on four counts of corruption for allegedly using his position to order police to quash charges of sexual misconduct made against him by Azizan Abu Bakr, his former driver, and Ummi Hafilda Ali, the sister of his then-private secretary.
Part of the amended charges state that "to save yourself from embarrassment," Mr Anwar directed police to obtain written denials from Mr Azizan of "allegations of sodomy" made in a letter to Dr Mahathir.
The changes mean the prosecution will not have to prove that Mr Anwar did indeed have an affair or commit sodomy, but only that he used his position to influence the police to quash the investigation.
The surprise move came as the prosecution wrapped up its case in the 11th week of the trial, with both sides set to summarise the evidence today.
The defence team is expected to take one day to argue the case should be dismissed, but if the judge rules there is a case to answer, the defence will then begin to call its witnesses.
Defence counsel Mr Christopher Fernando said if the judge rules there is a case to answer the defence would seek to call Dr Mahathir and the Finance Minister, Mr Daim Zainuddin.
Mr Daim, an old political foe of Mr Anwar's, was named last Friday as the new finance minister to replace him. Mr Anwar was sacked on September 2nd and arrested 18 days later.