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Trial put off to Aug 22, defence to finish interviews
Published:  Aug 15, 2011 8:45 AM
Updated: 2:21 PM

LIVE REPORTS The Anwar Ibrahim sodomy II trial has been postponed to next Monday to allow the defence team to complete its interviews of potential witnesses.

The defence team led by Karpal Singh has already interviewed 19 potential witnesses on the prosecution's list, whom it hopes to call as part of Anwar's defence.

Those already interviewed include Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, whom the defence met on Friday.

However, both Najib and Rosmah declined to answer questions and said that they did not want to be Anwar's defence witness.

The witnesses who have yet to be interviewed include former inspector-general of police Musa Hasan and two former Indonesian  maids - Suliati and Faria Dipan - who worked with condo owner Hasanuddin Abdul Hamid.

Both maids had since returned to Indonesia and the police are expected to inform the judge on the effort in locating the duo.

Besides Musa and the two maids, another three who are yet to be interviewed are Saiful's former fiance's mother Sharehah Md Salim, Pusrawi hospital nurse Yazihan Jusoh and Anwar's bodyguard, Mohd Rasid Mohd Rosdi.

LIVE REPORTS

8.50am: A banner is seen outside the Jalan Duta Court Complex - "Selamatkan Malaysia daripada peliwat 2.0" (Save Malaysia from the 2.0 sodomist)

8.56am: The accused, Anwar Ibrahim, arrives with PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, followed by some members of the defence team.

There are three officials from the foreign missions in court to observe the trial.

The prosecution team, led by solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, is already in court.

azlan 9.02am: The public gallery is packed. Anwar talks to some of the representatives from the foreign missions.

Among them is Queen’s counsel Mark Trowell, who prepares reports for the Inter Parliamentary Union.

Sitting beside Trowell is Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan's lawyer Zamri Idrus.

Also in court are Selangor exco Ronnie Liu from the DAP and former Jeli MP Mohd Apandi Mohamad of PAS.

9.08am: Anwar is having a chat with Liu and Apandi while court awaits the arrival of lead defence lawyer Karpal Singh.

9.24am: Outside the courtroom downstairs there are about 40 protesters from Gerakan Anti-Liwat (Movement Against Sodomy) chanting "reformasi and justice for Saiful".

9.27am: Australian barrister Trowell talks to solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof.

Defence lawyer Ram Karpal arrives in court and he too is having a chat with Yusof.

9.30am: Ram and the other defence lawyers are seen having an argument with Yusof. It is not clear what it is about.

9.34am: The defence team, without Karpal, are having a discussion a matter with Anwar.

9.36am: The court interpreter asks both parties to get ready for the trial. Karpal is still not in court.

9.38am: Both the defence and prosecution lawyers enter the judge's chambers.

9.53am: After 15 minutes, all parties emerge from the judge's chambers.

9.59am: There appears to be a problem with the court hearing. Yusof and the defence team are now having a private discussion, and they are joined by Anwar.

10.13am: Anwar jokes that those who do not have a seat in the public gallery can join him in the dock.

10.14am: Court session starts with Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah presiding.

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