(CNN) -- The judge in the sodomy case of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Monday postponed the trial until August 9 because of allegations a female prosecutor had an affair with his accuser.
As a result of the allegations, the defense has asked that charges against Anwar be dropped.
A blogger reported last week that the female member of the prosecutor's office allegedly had an affair with the male aide who accused Anwar, 62, of sodomizing him at a luxury apartment in June 2008.
Sodomy, even if consensual, is punishable by 20 years in prison in the majority-Muslim country. Anwar has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecution said the woman has been removed from the team even though the allegations involving her haven't been verified. The prosecution must respond over the next week to defense charges that the case has be compromised.
Anwar has filed a police report against the woman and the 25-year-old male aide, accusing them of violating the country's Official Secrets Act. The defense team believes the aide may have had access to confidential trial information.
CNN
