By Shannon Teoh April 21, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 — A retired senior police officer has said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was linked to a sex video in 1999, and is asking for an investigation to uncover any connection with similar allegations last month.
Former KL CID chief Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim wrote about his suspicions in an open letter to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar this week, saying he had investigated the first case 12 years ago.
“Several comparisons and questions arise regarding the two sex videos. I am of the opinion that the investigation into the 2011 Sex Video II must take into account the circumstances surrounding the 1999 Sex Video I.
“There is a ‘nexus’ between the two,” he wrote in the letter that was made available to The Malaysian Insider.
A mysterious “Datuk T” had first screened the video purportedly showing the opposition leader having sex with a Chinese prostitute on March 21.
Former Malacca Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, Perkasa treasurer-general Datuk Shuib Lazim and businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah later took responsibility for the 21-minute recording, stating that their aim was to “show that a man who wants to be prime minister is not qualified.”
The police said last weekend that they have wrapped up investigations into the video after verifying that it had not been doctored. Ismail said yesterday the Attorney-General’s Chambers has sent back the investigation papers as it needed “to be re-worked”.
“Some areas have to be re-looked at and re-worked. This is normal,” the IGP said.
But Mat Zain called on the police to investigate possible seven possible links between the two videos, namely:
1. Is Sex Video I also authentic now that Sex Video II has been officially declared authentic?
2. Are the contents of Sex Video I the same in full or in part with Sex Video II?
3. Is the identity of the man in Sex Video II that police have declared can be determined positively the same as the man in Sex Video I?
4. Does the voice of the man in Sex Video I belong to the man who is said to be identifiable in Sex Video II?
5. Does the voice of the woman in Sex Video I belong to the woman who is said to have been identified in Sex Video II?
6. Is the recording location of Sex Video I the same as Sex Video II?
7. Are the trio involved or played any role in the production or distribution of Sex Video I in 1999, seeing as they have been identified as having a relationship with Anwar? More so Rahim who is believed to have cause for revenge as Anwar had accused the former Umno Youth chief of corruption just three months before Sex Video I was made public on November 24 and 25, 1999.
Mat Zain, who was the investigating officer in the case involving the assault of Anwar in police custody, said that the sex video was distributed in Kuala Lumpur just a few days before the 10th general election on November 29.
“I believe a large segment of the public and even some police officers themselves are not aware and will be shocked to know of the existence of this first sex video that supposedly involved Anwar,” he wrote.
He said that several members of the public had found the video left in front of their homes or offices and made individual police reports, surrendering the copies as evidence.
As the city criminal investigation chief at the time, Mat Zain said his department had investigated the video.
“I myself saw the videos at least twice. The first time with senior Kuala Lumpur criminal investigation officers to classify the investigations and the second time with the former Kuala Lumpur mayor.
“To the best of my memory, the contents of the 1999 Sex Video I included recordings of phone conversations between a man said to be Anwar and his girlfriend,” he wrote.
Mat Zain said that the investigations identified “the source” of the video but failed to find the persons responsible for distributing it to the public.
“However, it is believed that the distribution was politically motivated as it was done just a few days before the 10th general election,” he said, adding that some of those who made police reports were members of Anwar’s PKR.
Mat Zain said Sex Video I should be screened to the people so that the public, especially the Malays, could make their own decision over whether the former deputy prime minister really lacked the morals to become prime minister as claimed, or if the video was created by his enemies to destroy his political career.
“Or even revenge due to Anwar exposing the abuse of power and corruption of certain leaders as mentioned,” said Mat Zain, referring to a segment of his letter where he named the Datuk T trio.
He said that the film was not pornographic and more like a documentary which would not fall foul of laws banning obscene material.
In his letter, Mat Zain also cast doubt over Rahim’s credibility as the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) had recommended he be charged for making a false statutory declaration in 1999.
“The question that arises is whether Rahim’s testimony in Sex Video II can be accepted fully, seeing as he was willing to make a false declaration to the prime minister and government to hide criminal offences as reported by the ACA,” he said.