With the sodomy trial scheduled to continue tomorrow with cross-examination of complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, the defence team has sought the assistance of three foreign experts in the field of DNA and forensics.

sankara nair Sankara Nair (left) , one of the lawyers for the accused Anwar Ibrahim, said in a statement that the three are DNA expert Dr Brian McDonald from Sydney, Australia, and forensics experts Dr C Damodaran, from Chennai, India, and Dr David Wells from Melbourne, Australia.

  • McDonald is a qualified pathologist from the University of Western Australia, and a director of DNA Consults. He has been roped in to help provide expertise in DNA evidence that is likely to be introduced during the course of the trial.

  • Damodaran has 28 years experience in forensics and teaching, with 36 years of experience in biochemistry, toxicology and forensics.

  • Wells is an associate professor in criminology at the University of Melbourne. He is currently the division head of clinical forensic medicine at the Victoria’s Institute of Forensic Medicine.

NONE Tomorrow, Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah will decide whether or not to recuse himself from presiding over the trial, which began on Feb 2.

The defence team had applied for his recusal on Feb 8, on the ground of ‘bias’ in relation to his decision not to caution Utusan Malaysia or cite the newspaper for contempt of court, in relation to its reporting of the trial.

Malaysia has come under pressure in recent days from Australian members of parliament to drop the sodomy charge against Anwar, the second since 1998.

American lawmakers have also called on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to ensure the conduct of the trial is fair and just.

Anwar, 62, has been charged with sodomising Saiful, 24, at a condominium in Bukit Damansara on June 26 last year.