KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — An orthopaedic surgeon said it was impossible for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to engage in “vigorous activities” since he suffers from severe arthritis and nerve damage.Dr Thomas Hoogland, who performed surgery on Anwar’s back in 2004 in Munich, Germany said Anwar suffered from three problems — “neck stenosis, facet joint arthritis, and nerve route damage.”
He was testifying today at the opposition leader’s Sodomy II trial.
The doctor said Anwar’s operation in 2004 left him with arthritis and that his condition had worsened between that time till 2008.
“The most increase in the problem could have been from 2004 to 2008. We are dealing with three problems — nerve damage, stenosis causing a lot of limitation in the movement of his back and the damage to the joint, causing the on-going problem, arthritis,” he told the court today.
Anwar, who has had a history of back problems, is accused of sodomising 26-year old Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
The last part of the defence’s examination session was conducted in-camera, where the public was ordered to leave the court.
Anwar’s lawyer Sankara remained tight-lipped when asked later whether the defence was trying to argue that the PKR defacto leader was physically incapable of the alleged act due to his medical condition.
“I cannot comment on that, as it is in-camera. But what we are trying to get at is that Anwar is unable to act vigorously,” Sankara said.
Dr Hoogland told the court he had even advised Anwar about how to conduct his daily prayers.
“He needs to move slowly to prevent pain. As stated earlier, he has problems bend (beyond) 10 to 15 degrees,” said the surgeon.
Anwar’s last checkup with Dr Hoogland was on September 8 this year.
The trial resumes tomorrow morning with the prosecution cross-examining the Dutch surgeon.
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