Jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's bail application pending the disposal of his sodomy appeal was adjourned to next Tuesday as one of his senior counsel is in hospital.

The Court of Appeal adjourned the application to July 22 after lead counsel Christopher Fernando said colleague Karpal Singh (photo) was admitted to a hospital in Penang last night for kidney problems.

He told the court that the applicant's case would be disturbed if it proceeded without the presence of the lawyer, who was in the midst of submitting.

"We are asking for a short adjournment as his (Karpal's) condition is not very serious. We were assured that he will be fighting fit again next week," said Fernando.

No objection

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail told Justices Pajan Singh Gill, Hashim Mohd Yusof and Richard Malanjum that he had no objection to the request and hoped that Karpal gets well soon.

Anwar and co-accused Sukma Darmawan Sasmitaat Madja (photo) are seeking bail pending the appeals against the High Court's decision to convict them for sodomising Azizan Abu Bakar, which was affirmed by the same court in April

Azizan was the former driver of Anwar's wife and Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail..

The ex-deputy premier was sentenced to nine years jail while Sukma received six years and four strokes of the rotan.

The case was last mentioned on May 9. Karpal had then only managed to submit for an hour before the hearing adjourned to allow Anwar to attend the marriage of his eldest daughter Nurul Izzah.

It was only a month later that the court informed the applicant's counsel that the hearing would continue today.

Tight security

Anwar, who appeared cheerful, was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair. He was also wearing a neck brace.

Some 30 police and prisons department personnel stood guard around the dock where he and Sukma were seated.

As the ex-deputy premier entered, he was greeted by family members and friends. Among those present were DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang and publicity secretary Ronnie Liu.

He also chatted briefly with former Internal Security Act detainees Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, Lokman Nor Adam and Tian Chua.

Outside, about 250 supporters had gathered to await the verdict. They left after Anwar was taken back to the Sungai Buloh prison at 11am. Before boarding the vehicle, the ex-deputy premier waved to the crowd amid chants of reformasi.

The police maintained tight security in the vicinity and Federal Reserve Unit personnel were also deployed.