Prisons Dept Rebuts Alleged Ex Inmate S Claims About Anwar S Life In Jail

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The Prisons Department today issued a lengthy statement denying claims made by an alleged former inmate regarding Anwar Ibrahim's time behind bars.
Among others, it denied that there was a VIP room for inmates at any prison.
The allegations which the department was responding to were made by an unknown individual only identified as "Abang Mat", during an online interview published on YouTube on Sunday.
Only Abang Mat's voice is heard during the interview and there are no pictures of him.
During the interview, the purported former convict claimed that there was a "VIP block" in prison for politicians and that Anwar had asked him to clean his room.
Responding to this, the Prisons Department said Anwar was placed in the Sungai Buloh prison clinic on the recommendation of health officials due to his health.
It said such treatment was accorded to all inmates who had health problems that needed care and observations.
It also denied that inmates from other blocks were made to clean the clinic or rooms in the clinic.
Instead, it said that selected inmates who were at the clinic were chosen for cleaning duties.
Meanwhile, the department also disputed that Abang Mat could see into Anwar's cell at the prison clinic.
It said that cells at the prison clinic could not be accessed by other inmates.
In Anwar's case, his room was only visible from a pathway for prison guards.
There was also a guard specially assigned to him, the department said.
Anwar's last stint in prison was from 2015 to 2018 after the Federal Court upheld a sodomy conviction against him.
Anwar was released in 2018 after receiving a royal pardon.
He maintains that he is innocent and was a victim of political machinations.
- Mkini

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