KUALA LUMPUR - The sodomy trial of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim beginning July 8 is expected to be more sensational and headline grabbing than in the last case.

The prosecution has lined up 30 witnesses to testify against the Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader at the High Court.

The exhibits to be tendered are expected to be as interesting as the testimonies of the witnesses. In Anwar’s sodomy case in 1998, the public saw a mattress being brought to the courtroom.

This time, the word is that a carpet, a video recording and DNA test results could possibly be brought into the courtroom.

This is 'Sodomy 2'

The coming trial has been dubbed as 'Sodomy 2' in reference to the similar trial against Anwar after he was ousted as deputy prime minister and finance minister. He was convicted the following year and jailed for six years for corruption.

In 2000, he was sentenced to nine years jail for sodomy but in 2004, the Federal Court reversed the second conviction and he was released.

This time, the 61-year-old Anwar is accused of forcibly sodomising 23-year-old Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, his former aide, at an apartment in Bukit Damansara in June 26, 2008.

Ahead of the trial, Anwar’s lawyers called a press conference recently saying medical reports on Saiful which purportedly showed there were no penetration and no wound.

The report is based on a doctor from Hospital Puswari, who signed a statutory declaration on July 30 stating there was no forcible sodomy. The doctor, Osman Abdul Hamid, had examined Saiful before the accusation against Anwar.

This time, witnesses are said to include the investigating officer Jude Pereira, staff of the hospital and the condominium.

The court is expected to shed light on the exact location of the apartment where the said crime is said to have occurred, particularly the owner of the unit.

Malaysians can expect to hear more about DNA and the processes involved during the trial, as it would be a crucial element in the case.

Anwar has applied to acquire certain documents pertaining to the trial on July 1. His lawyer Sankara N. Nair (right) has complained that there were outstanding reports which were not supplied, including the statements by prosecution witnesses, all medical notes by KL Hospital doctors, related photographs with respect to Saiful’s physical examination and video recordings of Saiful when he gave his statement to the police.

A 'sneak preview'

Anwar’s application to strike off the sodomy charge has also been fixed for July 8. Lawyers said these two applications could delay the sodomy trial proper and new dates could possibly be fixed.

Bits of what could possibly appeared at the trial has been privately made known to some selected key figures of the press since last year to keep them updated on the case, it is reliably learnt.

The sources have described these briefings as a 'sneak preview' and those who attended have remained tight-lipped, refusing to confirm nor deny what they had learnt.

It is understood that then Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar also conducted a briefing for heads of foreign mission last year.