The Anwar Ibrahim Sodomy II trial resumes tomorrow after a lapse of almost three months and the surprising revelations by star witness Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Until today, however, the Opposition Leader’s defence team has yet to obtain the witness list from the prosecution.

NONE One of Anwar’s lawyers, Sankara Nair, confirmed this when contacted today.

“We have yet to obtain the witness list from the prosecutors,” said Sankara, even though Saiful’s examination-in-chief was completed some time ago.

Saiful's cross-examination begins tomorrow.

In criminal trials, the witness list is usually given before the start of trial to facilitate the defence team's preparations.

Anwar, who is Permatang Pauh MP, has claimed the case to be “a trial by ambush” following the withholding of the witness list.

Other than the witness list that Anwar had requested even before the trial was scheduled, the other materials he has requested include CCTV recordings, witness statements, medical reports and the DNA sample said to have been obtained from Saiful.

Attempts to obtain the materials rose all the way up to the Federal Court, with no success . Trial judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah had earlier ordered the public prosecutors to accede to the request.

With Anwar’s failure to strike out the charge last Tuesday, the painful trial will proceed tomorrow as scheduled.

Saiful’s testimony: Key points recapped

  • NONE On the first day of Anwar’s trial, Saiful ( right ) graphically described the opposition leader’s alleged advances on him at the Desa Damansara condominium on June 26, 2008.
  • The second day of Saiful’s one-hour testimony was done on camera , wherein he gave further details of what allegedly transpired between him and Anwar.
  • That day, the judge, lawyers, prosecutors and witness also visited the alleged crime scene at the Desa Damansara condominium.
  • The afternoon session continued with Saiful telling the court that he had gone to three hospitals before finally being examined at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (KLH). 
NONE
  • Anwar’s lead counsel, Karpal Singh ( right ) had lodged a complaint in court over Utusan Malaysia ’s report on the previous day’s proceedings.
  • On the third day, the star witness told of how he idolised Anwar. He also identified several clothes which he had worn on the day he was allegedly sodomised, and spoke of Anwar offering him a scholarship.
  • Saiful also told the court that he could not defecate for two days prior to the check-up at KLH.
  • Saiful did not testify for the next few days, though the court saw many applications by Karpal to disqualify or recuse the judge from hearing the case.
  • February 17 saw the arrival of three foreign experts hired by Anwar to help the defence team in the case: DNA expert Dr Brian McDonald from Australia, forensics experts Dr C Damodaran from Chennai, India, and Dr David Wells also from Australia.