Malaysia’s Opposition Leader Convicted Of Sodomy

Ibrahim will now go to prison immediately to serve the five-year term that was given in March 2014.

This is Mr Anwar's second spell in jail on charges which he claims are politically motivated.

"I maintain my innocence and this to me is a fabrication coming from a political conspiracy to stop my political career. " Ibrahim told the court.

Ibrahim further accused the judges in his case of becoming partners in crime in the murder of judicial independence prompting them to walk out.

Correspondents say that Mr Anwar is widely seen as the only man who can break the governing coalition's dominance.

In his most recent case, Mr Anwar was accused of having sex with a male political aide in 2008.

Sodomy is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia though very few people are ever prosecuted.

By Bonareri Samaha

Source: BBC News