Court to hear Najib-Rosmah application on Monday

The Kuala Lumpur High Court will today hear the application by Prime Minister Najib Razak and wife, Rosmah Mansor, to set aside the subpoenas served on them to testify in the on-going Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial as defence witnesses.

Najib and Rosmah made the application last Wednesday through their solicitor Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, where among others they denied of a conspiracy to fix Anwar.

Najib had met Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan two days before the alleged sodomy incident and had allegedly asked the complainant to meet the police.

Yesterday, Anwarresponded to Najib and Rosmah's affidavit where he argued that there were a number of issues which the powerful couple should answer in court.

For Rosmah, she had allegedly met Saiful's friend, Mohd Rahimi Osman, before the incident.

It remains unclear whether the hearing will proceed today as the lawyers for Najib and Rosmah may need time to reply to Anwar's affidavit.

LIVE REPORTS

8.45am: All of Najib and Rosmah's lawyers Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Salehuddin Saidin, M Athimulan and Ghazi Ishak are in court.

8.55am: The prosecution team led by solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden enters the courtroom.

There are so many lawyers at the trial today that perhaps there may not be enough seats for all of them.

9.06am: The accused, Anwar Ibrahim, arrives with wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. As this is an application, it is not necessary for Anwar to come.

9.24am: Lawyers Sankara Nair and Param Cumaraswamy, both appearing for Anwar, arrive in court.

Sankara discusses with Najib and Rosmah's lawyers as Anwar's affidavit-in-reply is served on them today.

9.39am: Lead defence lawyer Karpal Singh is wheeled into the courtroom.

9.41am: All parties are having a discussion with High Court judge Justice Mohamd Zabidin Mohd Diah in his chambers.

9.51am: Lawyers and prosecutors emerged from judge's chambers. The hearing could be postponed to Monday.

9.52am: Court proceeding begin with justice Zabidin presiding.

9.53am: Najib and Rosmah's counsel Ghazi Ishak tells the court that they were only served the affidavit in reply from Anwar today.

"We apply for time to seek instructions from our client if there is anything to reply."

Karpal says the defence has no objection, but he wants to know whether the prosecution will file an affidavit.

Yusof says no.

Karpal reminds the court that Parliament in session. Justice Zabidin fixes Monday at 2.15pm to hear the application.

Court adjourns.