Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in an interview with Sin Chew Daily today, recounted the "black eye" incident of Anwar Ibrahim, shortly after dismissing him as deputy prime minister in 1998.

"I was very angry at the police because I asked them why have you not put him on trial.

"At first, they didn't want to tell me. (It was) later only they told me that they have given him a black eye.

"You see, after that, (if) you go to the court (with Anwar's black eye) and you know what is going to happen.

"But I insisted they must go to the court," he was quoted as saying.

Mahathir had in September 1998 dismissed Anwar on grounds that he was involved in sodomy and corruption.

Subsequently, Anwar was produced in court with a swollen eye, an image which gained worldwide attention.

It was later revealed that then inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor had assaulted him.

Rahim resigned as inspector-general police the following year.

He was later found guilty of assault and  sentenced to two months in prison and fined RM2,000.