anwar ibrahim court order police asp jude pereira 060808 05 PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim today said he had been informed he would be formally charged with sodomy tomorrow - a crime punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment.

"They are charging me tomorrow. It's for sodomy," Anwar told AFP , adding that the authorities had informed him of the move in a letter.

Anwar, a former deputy premier who was jailed a decade ago on sodomy charges that were later overturned, faces new allegations by a 23-year-old aide, Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Police confirm charge against Anwar

Deputy police chief Ismail Omar confirmed the Attorney-General's office had decided to charge Anwar and that he was required to appear in court at 10am tomorrow.

"The police have completed their investigations into the allegations of sexual misconduct involving Anwar Ibrahim according to the principles and the procedures of law within the country's legal system," he said in a statement.

Anwar has rejected the accusations which he says have been fabricated to prevent him from toppling the government, after landmark March elections that handed the opposition an unprecedented one-third of parliamentary seats.

"This charge is only possible on the orders from the prime minister, who today faces a confidence crisis and leadership struggle," he said.

Anwar said that Abdullah, who has faced calls to quit since March elections that handed the opposition unprecedented gains, was "desperate" and using the case "to cover up his failures and abuses."

He announced last week he would contest a by-election for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat vacated by his wife and earlier today the Election Commission announced the vote would be held in three weeks.

Will he be denied bail?

The police visited Anwar's house in Bukit Segambut, Kuala Lumpur, at 12.10pm today.

anwar ibrahim court order police asp jude pereira 060808 03 The police team was led by DSP Jude Pereira ( right ) - who refused to speak to the waiting horde of reporters as he left Anwar's house.

The notice requires Anwar to be present at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court at 10am tomorrow.

The sodomy charge preferred against Anwar is not expected to have a bearing in the Permatang Pauh by-election as only convicted persons are barred from contesting or forced to step down from being an elected representative.

Anwar's lawyer Sulaiman Abdullah indicated that the opposition was prepared for a gruelling court battle.

"We will fight hard against the might of the state. In any criminal case, the odds are stacked against the accused, and in a political case the odds will be stacked heavily against the accused," he told reporters.

It is unclear whether Anwar will be denied bail. If bail was denied, as was the case when he was charged 10 years ago, Anwar will be detained and will have to fight the by-election behind bars.