Anwar Ibrahim's appeal, relating to access to his accuser Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan's witness statements, has been fixed for hearing at the Court of Appeal next Friday.

One of Anwar's lawyers SN Nair, when contacted, said they were notified of the hearing date by the court's registry yesterday.

Anwar, 63, filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court's May 12 decision to deny him the statements.

He wants the prosecution to furnish him with Mohd Saiful's witness statements, as he claimed there were inconsistencies between the accuser's testimony and the sodomy charge framed against him (Anwar).

The defence contended that Mohd Saiful had said that the alleged sodomy took place without his consent but Anwar was charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code, with consensual sexual intercourse.

The trial is set to resume on July 14.

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

He faces up to 20 years' jail and whipping, if convicted.

- Bernama