( CNN ) -- A Malaysian court on Friday overturned opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim 's acquittal of the charge that he sodomized a former political aide , the latest twist in a long-running legal battle . Anwar was acquitted of sodomy in January 2012 . But the Court of Appeal on Friday ruled that he is guilty , state news agency Bernama reported . Anwar , de facto leader of the People 's Justice Party , has repeatedly said he is innocent , calling the case against him an attempt by the government to end his political career -- an assertion it has consistently denied . `` This is a travesty of justice -- a blatant disregard of the rule of law , '' said Azmin Ali , deputy president of the People 's Justice Party and a member of parliament . `` This case is a clear case of hurried justice . '' When asked if this has anything to do with Malaysia 's upcoming elections , Ali did n't hesitate in his response : `` Certainly , they wanted to stop Anwar from contesting . '' The previous trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court lasted nearly two years . Prosecutors alleged that he sodomized the former aide , Saiful Bukhari Azlan , in June 2008 . But a judge found him not guilty , saying it was not safe to rely on DNA evidence that had been cited in the trial . Sodomy , even if consensual , is an offense punishable by up to 20 years in prison in Malaysia . Investigators arrested Anwar in July 2008 , four months after a loose coalition of opposition parties that he led won 82 of 222 parliamentary seats in elections . It was the second time in the country 's history that the governing party had failed to gain the two-thirds majority needed to amend the constitution . He was the heir apparent to former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad until 1998 , when he was sacked and charged with corruption and sodomy . Anwar spent six years in prison after being convicted of corruption charges in 1999 and of sodomy charges involving his wife 's former driver in 2000 . Malaysia 's highest court overturned the sodomy conviction and ordered him released from prison in 2004 . However , the corruption verdict was never lifted , barring him from running for political posts until 2008 .
The Court of Appeal ruled that Mr Khan is guilty of sodomizing an aide . A jury had acquitted Anwar of the charges in 2012 . Anwar has repeatedly stated he is innocent .