By P Prem Kumar
KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysia still awaits a final verdict in the saga of Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial after proceedings were adjourned Monday for a last argument from the prosecution team.
The Federal Court was initially expected to deliver its verdict Monday. The five-member bench -- chaired by Chief Justice Ariffin Zakaria -- usually takes just two days to hear high profile cases, but has now spent five days hearing both defense and prosecution arguments.
The final verdict is now expected in the next few days.
Ibrahim, a former deputy prime minister, was charged with performing carnal intercourse with an aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, in capital Kuala Lumpur on June 26, 2008.
The Court of Appeal in March overturned an acquittal verdict delivered by the High Court following a lengthy trial, in the process sentencing Ibrahim to five-years in jail pending the outcome of this week's appeal.
Ibrahim's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail told The Anadolu Agency on Monday that his team expected the judges to take some time after tomorrow's prosecution argument.
"The defense are also expected to rebut some specific points of the prosecution team."
She added that the verdict might be announced late tomorrow or Wednesday.
Anwar's defense team of 14 lawyers is led by retired Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram.
The apex court will be deciding Ibrahim's fate for the second time after acquitting him of sodomizing his former driver and adopted brother in 1998.
He was also sacked as deputy premier and finance minister by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
The federal court could uphold the appeal court's ruling, or even enhance the sentence to 20 years.
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