Affair Claim Could Disrupt Sodomy Trial

Lawyers for the Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim moved on Monday to have sodomy charges against him dismissed, citing an allegation of a romantic link between a prosecutor and Mr. Anwar’s accuser.

The prosecutor, Farah Azlina Latif, was removed from the case last week after a Web site asserted that she was having an affair with Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a former aide to Mr. Anwar who says he sodomized him.

The attorney general told news outlets that Ms. Farah was removed from the prosecution team to protect its credibility with the public. The prosecution, in a letter to the defense, has said it was unable to verify the accusations of an affair.

At a hearing on Monday in the Kuala Lumpur High Court, where Mr. Anwar has been on trial since February, defense lawyers said the integrity of the prosecution had been compromised.

“This just supports our contention from the beginning that this is all a farce, a politically motivated trial and trumped-up charges,” Mr. Anwar said afterward. Arguments on the motion were scheduled for next week.

On Monday, Mr. Anwar filed a complaint with the police against Mr. Saiful and Ms. Farah. Karpal Singh, Mr. Anwar’s lead attorney, said that the defense was concerned that Ms. Farah might have passed court documents to Mr. Saiful, and that he wanted the police to investigate whether the two had violated the Official Secrets Act.

A prosecutor, Yusof Zainal Abiden, on Monday characterized the Web site’s accusation as “bare allegations” with no substance. The prosecution has said that Ms. Farah was junior member of the team with no access to confidential information.

Mr. Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, was convicted of sodomy and abuse of power in 1998. Although that sodomy conviction was later overturned, he spent six years in prison.

He has repeatedly said the new charges were another attempt to end his political career after the opposition made gains in the 2008 elections.