Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has provided an alibi to police to prove he did not sodomize a former male aide.
Anwar'slawyer, Sivarasa Rasiah, told reporters Friday that Anwar has givenfull details of the alibi to police, but refused to elaborate.
Anwarwas arrested Wednesday outside his home, after the 23-year-old formeraide filed a sodomy complaint against him. He underwent several hoursof interrogation and a medical examination, but refused to allowauthorities to take a DNA sample.
His lawyer Rasiah Friday saidAnwar will consider giving his DNA only if it can be independentlyverified that all procedures are done "professionally" and withoutpolice interference that might alter the results.
Rasiah saidAnwar has reason to believe DNA evidence will be fabricated, because ofwhat happened to him before. In 1998, Anwar was dismissed as deputyprime minister and convicted on sodomy and corruption charges. Thesodomy charges were later overturned, but he had already spent sixyears in jail.
The lawyer also said the need for DNA analysishas not been justified, since the police report made by the complainantremains "shrouded in secrecy."
Anwar has dismissed the sodomy allegations as a conspiracy against him.
MalaysianPrime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi denied the charge, saying there isno conspiracy or "act to victimize" Anwar. He challenged the oppositionleader to provide a DNA sample, saying if he really has not doneanything, then he should give one.
Sodomy carries a punishment of up to 20 years in jail in Malaysia.
InMarch, Anwar led the opposition to a stunning electoral victory,breaking the ruling National Front coalition's two-thirds-majority holdon parliament for the first time in four decades. The opposition alsowon control of five states.