Malaysia's high court has acquitted opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of charges of sodomy.

The judge ruled Monday that the DNA used by prosecutors as evidence was unreliable. The judge also said there was not enough corroborating evidence proving that Anwar had sex with a former male aide.

Homosexuality is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia. If he had been convicted, Anwar could have faced 20 years in prison.

Anwar is a former deputy prime minister who was forced to resign in 1998 after his conviction on an earlier sodomy charge. The Supreme Court later threw out that verdict.

Anwar has denied all the sodomy charges, saying his chief political rival, Prime Minister Najib Razak, concocted them. The prime minister denies the allegation.

Anwar is considered to be a leading opposition candidate in this year's general elections.