At the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court hearing on September 29, 1998, after Anwar was charged, his lawyers made an application to the Court that he be allowed to speak directly and put on record what happened during his beating. The judge took form 12.40 p.m. to 3.00 p.m. to decide to allow him to speak. For most lawyers, there was no question of even having to deliberate the issue when an accused person is asking to inform the court directly of an assault in custody. It is indicative of the kind of pressure brought to bear on the judiciary where they have to wrestle with how the executive might react to their rulings. After Anwar spoke , the Sessions Judge then allowed an application by Anwar's lawyers that a family-appointed eye-specialist be allowed to exai-ni ne Anwar's eye injury. The Deputy Public Prosecutor objected. The Sessions Judge has now been transferred to the Civil Division of the Sessions Courts. An extract of the medical report issued by Dr Shukri states:

"When I examined him on September 29, 1998 he was conscious and rational. He had a resolving haematorna (blood-clot) and oedema (swelling) with a depression over the left forehead, a very dense ecchymosis (bruise) over the entire left upper and lower eyelids and this ecchymosis extended medically into the left upperside of his nose and also lower down into the maxillary (cheek) area. There was tenderness (pain on touching) over the entire area."