The Kuala Lumpur High Court has postponed the sodomy trial of Anwar Ibrahim to Aug 2 following an application from the defence team stating that lead counsel Karpal Singh is on 15 days of medical leave.

NONE Karpal, 70, was found to be suffering from acute lung infection after he was taken to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre on July 9.

Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah said the court would allow the application submitted by defence lawyer Param Cumaraswamy.

"This follows assurances made by Param that the case will continue regardless of whether or not Karpal will be present or not later," he said.

"One of the (other) lawyers will have to continue if there is this eventuality."

Solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden did not object to the application.

NONE Anwar, 63, is charged with sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, between 3.15pm and 4pm on June 26, 2008.

Scores of supporters had earlier gathered at the lobby of the Kuala Lumpur court complex under the watchful eyes of a team of police officers.

The court also set Anwar's trial to continue for the whole of next month.

'Karpal recovering'

Lawyer Sankara Nair told reporters outside the courtroom that Karpal was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia (acute lung infection).

sankara nair bukit aman teresea kok isa arrest pc 170908 02 "Karpal is really in bad shape, and you know he hardly takes any MCs (medical certificates)."

Karpal's son, Ram Karpal said his father was discharged last Thursday. According to him, Karpal has been given a prescription of antibiotics.

"He is recovering. His health is improving and he has been advised by the doctors to rest for another week untilFriday," Ram said, adding that his father, who celebrated his birthday over the weekend, is now recuperating at their Penang home.

Sankara reiterated that the defence is committed to resuming the trial on Aug 2.

"We have made the pledge in court as we also want to see the trial continue," he said.

Sankara said that, if Karpal is still ill, another lawyer in the defence team will take over.

"Karpal has two weeks to fully recover. I hope and am sure he will be do so by then," he said.

azlan “In any event, we will (the other lawyers) will continue with the trial without Karpal if he (is still) unwell. There is no intention at all by us in delaying the trial. It is just that Karpal is unwell.”

In addition to Karpal, Param and Sankara, Anwar's defence team includes CV Prabhakaran, Wan Anuar Syahadat, Melissa Christopher Fernando and Mohd Hanipa Maidin.

The hearing is expected to resume with the cross-examination of Kuala Lumpur Hospital's Dr Razali Ibrahim, one of four doctors who examined complainant Mohd Saiful.

Anwar, had prior to the break in the trial, applied for the doctor's notes and medical reports prepared by the doctors – Razali, Dr Khairul Nizam Hassan and Dr Siew Sheue Feng.

Australian forensics expert Dr David Wells had claimed that he would not be able to assist the defence if such documents were not made available to him.

Earlier, Justice Mohamad Zabidin had ruled there was no provision or legal basis for such documents to be supplied by the prosecution.

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