By Shannon Teoh
The Malaysia Insider
Sep 12, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — A former senior police officer today claimed that Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had fabricated evidence against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, leading to his sacking from government by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1998.
Former city criminal investigation chief Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim claimed in an open letter to the Inspector-General of Police today that Musa, who was then Bukit Aman’s assistant criminal investigation chief, had stolen Anwar’s DNA to ensure that the sacked deputy prime minister would be convicted of sodomy.
“I believe this happened because Tun was given information or a briefing that was manipulated and misleading,” said the policeman who led the 1998 probe into the black eye inflicted on Anwar by then police chief Tan Sri Rahim Noor.
Mat Zain based his claim on “documentary evidence and statements that I have and are within my knowledge” as well as Dr Mahathir’s memoirs that were released earlier this year.
The former prime minister had said that although he doubted claims that Anwar had committed sodomy, Rahim and Musa, who was the investigating officer, had told him that they had evidence and confessions from those involved.
But Mat Zain noted that according to testimony by Hospital Kuala Lumpur doctor Dr Zahari Noor, Musa, who later rose through the ranks to become Inspector-General of Police, had “stolen” Anwar’s blood samples on October 15, 1998.
“But at that point, Anwar was already charged in court and waiting for a hearing date. The process of gathering evidence should have been completed by then.
“Musa owes the public an explanation as to what he briefed Tun Mahathir on, to the point the former prime minister was convinced that Anwar was involved in adultery and homosexuality,” he wrote.
Mat Zain also pointed out that as current Attorney-General Abdul Gani was the prosecuting officer in the sodomy case, Musa’s actions “were under the orders and/or supervision of Gani Patail.”
He also accused Musa and Abdul Gani of fabricating the case for their joint benefit but insisted that Dr Mahathir himself was not involved as he had repeatedly told the police, including Mat Zain during his investigations into the black eye incident, that there should be no cover up.
The former police officer has repeatedly attacked Abdul Gani in recent months, calling on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to sack the A-G for failing to initiate charges in high-profile cases such as the death of DAP aide Teoh Beng Hock while being held by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
He has also called for a royal panel to investigate Abdul Gani’s role in destroying public confidence in the police.