The former Malaysian deputy prime minister, Mr Anwar Ibrahim, his neck in a brace after hospital treatment for injuries received in custody, was told yesterday in the Kuala Lumpur high court that he will face trial on corruption and sodomy charges on November 2nd.
The trial is not likely to be finished before world leaders, including President Clinton, come to the Malaysian capital for the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum on November 17th and 18th, lawyers said.
This will ensure that the case, which has attracted world-wide expressions of concern - the latest yesterday from the EU - will remain in the international spotlight.
Riot police with water-cannon trucks were deployed around the colonial-era courthouse in Merdeka (Freedom) Square, but there were no demonstrations.
Last night Mr Anwar's wife, Dr Wan Azizah, said that she was not allowed to speak to her husband in court except for a few words. She said he had lost a lot of weight and had been given only bread and water for lunch. Also, he was angry when the court adjourned at 3 p.m. and was prevented by police from embracing his mother.
Mr Anwar was fitted with the cervical collar during a check-up at Kuala Lumpur's University Hospital on Sunday. In court last week Mr Anwar, who appeared sporting a spectacular black eye, alleged he was beaten about the head and neck by masked police officers and knocked unconscious, on the night of his arrest on September 20th.
Doctors apparently identified a lower neck problem but have yet to report their findings to the court on Mr Anwar's allegations.
"This collar is not something a doctor would ask a patient to wear just for fun," Mr Christopher Fernando, one of Mr Anwar's team of lawyers, told the court.
Judge Augustine Paul rejected Mr Anwar's request for bail, saying his lawyers had failed to prove that he would refrain from tampering with witnesses if released.
The Education Minister, Mr Najib Abdul Razak, accused his former colleague of attempting to initiate a revolution when he was dismissed from the cabinet on September 2nd and rallied large crowds of supporters. Judge Paul said yesterday that public comments about the case must cease to ensure a fair trial.
The Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has said several times that Mr Anwar is guilty of the charges of "carnal intercourse against the laws of nature" with people including his former speechwriter, adopted brother, a driver and a fashion designer.
Mr Najib also disclosed that Dr Mahathir had complete control over the legal process, saying that the prime minister had offered not to proceed with the case against Mr Anwar if he had resigned.
The 51-year-old former deputy prime minister was fired after openly disagreeing with currency controls, and later said he was the victim of a conspiracy to prevent his disclosures of high-level corruption.
The judge told Mr Anwar, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, that the trial would continue until November 14th and then resume if necessary on November 23rd. Despite their concerns most leaders of the 18 APEC countries, including the US, Russia, Canada, Japan and Australia, have said they will attend the summit in Kuala Lumpur.
The fact that while they are in town the trial will be in recess reduces the likelihood of demonstrations in support of Mr Anwar, observers said. The judge ruled that the trial would be held in English for the benefit of the international media.
The EU said yesterday it was deeply concerned about reports that Mr Anwar had been beaten by police. "The EU expresses its deep concern about reports of physical mistreatment of former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim," Austria, the current EU president, said in a statement.
Noting that a commission had been appointed to investigate the incident, the EU said it hoped "appropriate action" would be taken against anyone found responsible. Dr Mahathir has promised a speedy police investigation of the alleged police brutality.