Former police chief Abdul Rahim Noor's appeal in the High Court against his sentence was this morning put off to September 18 because he was on medical leave.

Rahim is appealing against the two-month prison term and RM2,000 fine for assaulting sacked deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim while he was in police custody on Sept 20, 1998.

Sessions court judge Akhtar Tahir meted out the sentence on March 15 after Rahim pleaded guilty to an amended charge of "causing simple hurt" to the former heir-apparent to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Rahim was originally charged with "attempting to cause grievous hurt" as recommended by the Royal Commission of Enquiry that was set up to probe into Anwar's allegations that he was assaulted while in police custody.

The former charge carries a jail term of three-and-a-half years and a fine upon conviction unlike the amended charge which carries a prison term of maximum one year's jail and a fine not exceeding RM2,000.

After the sentencing was announced, Rahim's counsel K. Kumaraendran filed a notice of appeal to the High Court and said the defence is appealing "on the ground that the sentence does not commensurate with the service he (Rahim) has rendered to the nation and society".

Judge Akhtar allowed a stay of execution pending the appeal by Rahim against his sentence and allowed a bail of RM5,000 in one surety.

Attorney-General Mohtar Abdullah also said that the prosecutors could also be appealing for a harsher sentence.

Anwar, after his arrest, appeared in court with a black eye and said he was beaten while in police custody.

A doctor, testifying at the Royal Commission of Enquiry that was set up to investigate Anwar's allegations, said the blows to the head were "potentially lethal".

Describing the assault as "cruel", judge Akhtar said he "cannot deny the fact that, if not for the Royal Commission, the cruel act (by Rahim) would not have been known".

"The accused, being the police chief, should have acted reasonably even amidst the political tension in the country," Akhtar said.

Anwar is currently serving a six-year jail term for corruption and stands trial for sodomy and sexual misconduct.

The former finance minister has repeatedly denied all charges and says they were orchestrated by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's aides to topple him from power.