The Kuala Lumpur High Court is to hear applications today by premier Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor against being called as defence witnesses in the Sodomy II trial.
Lawyers representing Najib and Rosmah, led by Ghazi Ishak, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Salehuddin Saidin and M Athimulan will submit before Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah. This is expected to take an hour.
Anwar Ibrahim's lead counsel Karpal Singh and the prosecution team led by Solicitor-General II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden will then make their arguments. Lawyers for Najib and Rosmah will be allowed to reply.
It is not known whether a ruling will be made today. However, Justice Zabidin has at times ruled immediately on an application.
Najib and Rosmah, in separate affidavits, have denied involvement in any conspiracy to frame the charge against Anwar. They have therefore claimed that their presence and testimony will be of little use to the court.
Anwar, however, has said they are required to assist in the case because Najib's former aide had taken complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan to meet Najib who was then the deputy premier. Rosmah, meanwhile, had met Saiful's friend Rahimi Osman.
LIVE REPORTS
2.07pm: Najib's lawyers led by Ghazi Ishak and the prosecution team led by Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden are in court.
2.16pm: Anwar's defence lawyers Sankara Nair and Param Cumaraswamy arrive.
Also present is Mark Trowell, an independent observer from the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
2.22pm: Anwar arrives with his wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, daughter and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah and PKR secretary-general and Machang MP Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Saiful's lawyer Zamri Idrus is in court as an observer.
2.27pm: The court is already full. Lawyers for Najib and Rosmah are sitting in one row.
2.30pm: Johor PKR chief and former Health Minister Chua Jui Meng arrives. Lead defence counsel Karpal Singh is expected shortly.
2.43pm: Karpal arrives and takes his place.
2.49pm: Court in session with Justice Zabidin presiding...