Malaysia court finds Anwar Ibrahim not guilty of sodomy

Anwar Ibrahim: "I thank God for this great news. I am finally vindicated"

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been acquitted of sodomy after a two-year trial.

Judge Zabidin Mohamad Diah said DNA evidence submitted by the prosecution was unreliable and discharged the case.
Mr Anwar, 64, has consistently denied the charges and called them a government bid to cripple his political ambitions and influence.
The government said the verdict showed Malaysia's judiciary was free from government influence.
Sodomy is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia but, says the BBC's Jennifer Pak in Kuala Lumpur, very few people are ever prosecuted.
'Justice has prevailed' Mr Anwar had been accused of having sex with a former male aide. He had faced up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

But the judge said that there were questions over whether DNA evidence had been contaminated.

"The court is always reluctant to convict on sexual offences without corroborative evidence. Therefore, the accused is acquitted and discharged," the judge said.
The verdict was greeted with cheers from Mr Anwar's supporters, wife and daughters, our correspondent says.
Mr Anwar told journalists outside the courtroom: "Thank God justice has prevailed I have been vindicated.
To be honest, I am a little surprised."
Information Minister Rais Yatim said that the verdict showed that judges were free to rule as they saw fit.
"Malaysia has an independent judiciary," he said. "The current wave of bold democratic reforms introduced by Prime Minister Najib Razak will help extend this transparency to all areas of Malaysian life."
Police said two people were injured in two small blasts caused by explosive devices in a car park outside the court as the verdict was delivered. They did not say whether it was linked to the case.