Beating of Ex-Official Draws Prison Term

Malaysia’s ex-police chief was sentenced to two months in prison today for assaulting the former deputy premier, who was blindfolded and handcuffed to a bed in a jail cell during the attack. Abdul Rahim Noor had pleaded guilty to brutally beating Anwar Ibrahim on the night the former deputy premier was arrested in 1998, an attack that shocked Malaysians and drew international condemnation. The case marks the first time a police chief has been charged in court or forced to resign for abuse in Malaysia, where police enjoy sweeping powers. Rahim was freed on bail pending an appeal. Anwar is serving a six-year sentence for corruption and is on trial for sodomy, a crime that carries a 20-year jail term. He denies the charges, saying they are politically motivated.