Even After Surgery, Anwar's Body Movements Limited, Says German Surgeon

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Thomas Hoogland told the High Court today that the spine surgery he performed on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had improved Anwar's walking but his body movements were limited.
The expert from Germany said that prior to the surgery, Anwar could hardly walk.
During examination-in-chief by Anwar's co-counsel S.N. Nair, Dr Hoogland said that though the surgery initially helped Anwar's movements, his examination on Anwar on Sept 8 this year revealed that there was limitation to Anwar's internal rotation of both the hip joints.
"There was back pain while extending the back off five degrees with limited extension up to 10 degrees. There was clear weakness of the left foot and big toe, and there was numbness and distal sensory loss to the left knee joint," said Dr Hoogland in referring to his medical report at the Munich Hospital, Germany, dated Sept 8 this year.
He was testifying at the trial of Anwar, 64, who is charged with sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 26.
Anwar pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court on Aug 7, 2008, to committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature at the Desa Damansara Condominium in Bukit Damansara between 3.10 pm and 4.30 pm on June 26, 2008.
Asked further by Nair, based on Anwar's medical condition especially complication in his spine, whether he can kneel, for instance, to perform his prayers, Dr Hoogland said limited flexion was possible and kneeling, which results in movement of 90 degrees, was not advisable.
"I warned him of the pain involved in such movements and advised him to do it (prayers) slowly. I said to him to do it very carefully and slowly, not to go very fast," said the seventh defence witness.
He said this was very important because if Anwar were to do his prayer movements fast, it could cause him severe pain and injury.
Dr Hoogland said Anwar also suffered from arthritis of the facet joints.
To another question, to compare his examination of Anwar in 2008 and a recent (Sept 8, 2011) medical report, Dr Hoogland said the nerve roots had gotten worse and one of the back muscles had also deteriorated due to the injuries suffered by Anwar during a police assault in 1998.
Anwar was assaulted by then Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Rahim Noor while in police custody in Bukit Aman.
Today's proceedings, towards the end, saw further testimony of Dr Hoogland heard in camera.
The trial, before Judge Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah, continues tomorrow.
In a related development, Anwar's counsel Karpal Singh told reporters he would file an appeal against the judge's ruling allowing the applications by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to set aside the subpoenas compelling them to be Anwar's defence witnesses.

tunku : with limited movement he can still have sex with a china doll......what a "god gifted" person he is.