Malaysia court hears Anwar sodomy final appeal

A court in Malaysia is hearing a final appeal filed by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim against his sodomy conviction.

Mr Anwar was accused of sodomising a male aide in 2008. Sodomy is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia, but very few people are ever prosecuted.

The popular politician was sentenced to five years in jail in March after an earlier acquittal was overturned.

He says the case is a move by the ruling coalition to prevent him from participating in politics.

The BBC's Malaysia correspondent Jennifer Pak says hundreds of Mr Anwar's supporters have gathered in front of the court house, in the administrative capital Putrajaya to protest, calling for justice.

Mr Anwar is widely seen as the only man who can break the governing coalition's dominance in Malaysia, our correspondent reports.

On Wednesday, before proceedings began Mr Anwar said if there was "judicial independence in the country" he would be freed, reported the Associated Press.

If found guilty, the 67-year-old would face prison and would be barred from running for office for five years from the day he is released from jail.

That would mean he would be unable to contest the next general election, which must be held by 2018.

"The 'sodomy' charges against Anwar Ibrahim are clearly politically motivated and a blatant attempt by the Malaysian authorities to silence and undermine a critical voice," Amnesty International said in a statement.

A decision from the court is expected on Thursday.

In 2008, Mr Anwar was accused of having sex with a male political aide. He was cleared by a High Court of the charges in 2012 because of a lack of evidence.

The government then appealed against his acquittal and it was overturned by the court.

This is Mr Anwar's second sodomy conviction since he was sacked from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition government in 1998. His previous conviction was also overturned.