Published: Friday July 3, 2009 MYT 10:12:00 AM
Updated: Friday July 3, 2009 MYT 1:16:51 PM

Sodomy II: Hearing delayed to July 8, lawyer unwell (Update)

By LISA GOH

lisagoh@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court fixed next Wednesday (July 8) to hear Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s application to be provided documents pertaining to his sodomy case, after standing down the court as his lawyer was feeling unwell.

Anwar’s lead counsel Sulaiman Abdullah told High Court judge Justice MohamadZabidin Mohd Diah that he had been experiencing “giddy spells” since the conclusion of Anwar’s appeal against a transfer order in the Court of Appeal on Thursday.

“The Solicitor-General (II Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden) has been kind enough to say that I should seek medical attention immediately.

“Therefore, with greatest regret, I ask for a stand-down so that I can seek medical attention within the hour,” he said before leaving for Pantai Medical Centre here.

On March 10, Anwar pleaded not guilty to a charge of sodomising his former personal aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 24, at a condominium in Bukit Damansara here on June 26, last year.

In June, Anwar’s lawyer Sankara Nair filed a notice of motion with the High Court Registry, claiming that the Attorney-General’s Chambers had not provided the defence counsel with the necessary documents for them to prepare their defence.

In the application, Anwar requested the entire CCTV recordings, DNA samples, chemist notes, witness statements, including that of the complainant Saiful Bukhari, medical reports and all other relevant evidence.

The PKR adviser also applied for the court to acquit and discharge him of the sodomy charge or to suspend the proceedings permanently if the prosecution did not comply with the court order to supply him with the documents.

That application, along with the sodomy trial proper, is also scheduled to commence on July 8.