The sodomy trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, which was expected to resume on Monday, might be postponed as lead counsel Karpal Singh is recovering from a lung infection.

In an SMS to Malaysiakini , Sankara Nair, another of Anwar's lawyers, said that Karpal is on a 15-day medical leave while recovering from an “acute lung infection”.

NONE Karpal ( left ) was admitted to the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) last week and is currently recuperating in his hometown in Penang.

“Doctors have given him an MC (medical certificate) for 15 days from July 9 to 23,” said Sankara.

“We have written to court for an adjournment and the judge’s instructions were that we make the application in open court on Monday,” said Sankara.

He added that the rest of Anwar legal team will be present at the Kuala Lumpur High Court to file the application.

The resumption of the second sodomy trial was earlier postponed from July 14 to 19 as Anwar (PKR-Permatang Pauh) and Karpal (DAP-Bukit Gelugor), who are both parliamentarians, were to attend the Parliament sitting up to yesterday.

Anwar is on trial for allegedly sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan at Unit 11-5-1 of the Desa Damansara Condominium, Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.

The Pakatan Rakyat leader faces up to 20 years in jail and whipping, if convicted.

Karpal says sorry

Contacted later, Karpal confirmed that he was on medical leave because of a lung infection and is currently resting at this Penang home.

He said doctors have put him on a course of antibiotics.

“I believed Sankara Nair has written to the court informing this earlier, and the lawyers would make an application in open court on Monday for a postponement," he said.

Karpal, who is also celebrating his birthday today, apologised for his condition.

Karpal is the lead counsel for Anwar's sodomy trial as he had replaced Sulaiman Abdullah, who was also then facing health problems and workload as he was, at the time, also lead counsel for Pakatan in the case over the Perak constitutional crisis last year.

Other lawyers in Anwar's team are former UN Special Rapporteur Param Cumaraswamy, CV Prabhakharan, Sankara, Melissa Christopher Fernando @ Aris Rizal and Mohd Hanipa Maidin.

When the trial resumes, the defence team are expected to cross-examine the Kuala Lumpur Hospital doctor who examined Mohd Saiful Azlan Bukhari.