Anwar has spent more than a decade fighting sodomy charges . The one-time student activist was once Mahathir 's right-hand man . After a two-year trial , which also involved corruption charges , Anwar was found guilty and sentenced to nine years in jail for sodomy and six years , served concurrently , for corruption . The opposition leader dented the ruling party 's majority at elections in 2008 . He is now facing corruption allegations and could be barred from running for office again if he wins his appeal against conviction on sodomy charges.
Anwar has spent more than a decade fighting sodomy charges . The one-time student activist was once Mahathir 's right-hand man . The opposition leader dented the ruling party 's majority at elections in 2008 . He is now facing corruption allegations and could be barred from running for office again if he wins his appeal against conviction on sodomy charges.