The proceedings of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s final sodomy appeal at the Federal Court today will see the continuation of submissions by the defence team.

Former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, who is also leading a team of 14 lawyers representing Anwar, will present his submissions today and he is expected to stress on important issues relating to the case.

Yesterday, Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria had given Gopal an extra 15 minutes for his submissions today, which will be followed by submissions from lead prosecutor, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

The proceeding yesterday began at 9.30am and ended at 7pm, making it the longest session since proceedings began on Monday, October 28.

Following new issues brought forward during the proceedings at the Court of Appeal this time around, many expect the five-member panel judge will be able to reach a verdict on the case by today.

However, many are also prepared for any surprises that many crop up.

Here are the developments of today’s proceedings:

4.00pm: Gopal and Muhammad Shafee and other lawyers from both sides were seen chatting and laughing with each other after the shortest proceeding through the course of this case is adjourned.

3.55pm: The proceeding was adjourned to a date that will be determined later.

3.50pm: The proceedings takes a short break when Justice Tan Sri Suriyadi said the five-panel judge have only received Volume 13 of the prosecution's submission whereas Muhammad Shafee is already reading out his submissions from Volume 14.

Muhammad Shafee wanted to touch on forensic expert Dr Brian McDonald but Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria said the court needed to move away from the issue. Gopal said, if the prosecution wants to bring up the matter, he has nothing to rebut on the issue.

3.45pm: Gopal ends his submission which gives way for lead prosecutor Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah to present his submissions.

The judges ask Muhammad Shafee to focus on the new issues that have been raised.

3.40pm: The defence continues to stress the 'conspiracy' aspect in Anwar's case. According to Gopal, this can be accepted and forgiven considering the Opposition Leader's life experience.

3.35pm: Gopal again touched on Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan's photo taken during a tea party taken which had been raised previously. In Gopal's previous submission, he had told the court Saiful was seen 'happy' after the sodomy incident had been reported.

3.15pm: The five-judge panel enters the courtroom and the proceeding begins. Gopal continues with his submissions yesterday on the credibility of former Pusrawi Hospital doctor, Dr Mohd Osman Abdul Hamid.

2.50pm: Anwar arrives at the courtroom accompanied by PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali. Anwar's family members and acquaintances were also seen in the public gallery.

Anwar Ibrahim smiling to photographers at the Palace of Justice on Thursday. - BERNAMA Photo

Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria is leading a five-member panel comprising Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif and Federal Court judges Tan Sri Abdull Hamid Embong, Tan Sri Suriyadi Halim Omar and Datuk Ramly Ali.

Anwar is represented by a team of 14 lawyers led by Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, who is a former Federal Court judge himself.

The other 13 lawyers are Ramkarpal Singh Deo, Sangeet Kaur Deo, N. Surendran, R. Sivarasa, J. Leela, Latheefa Koya, Lim Choon Khim, Eric Paulsen, Michelle Yesudas, Shahid Adli Kamaruddin, Zaleha Al-Hayat, Jeremy Vinesh Anthony and Mohamed Aliff Bolkin.

A senior lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, is leading the prosecution team in the appeal. He is assisted by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria.

Anwar, 67, was charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code after the Court of Appeal on March 7 this year, found him guilty of having sodomised his now 27-year-old former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

The offence was allegedly committed at Unit 11-5-1, Kondominium Desa Damansara, Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara between 3.10pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.

The charge carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.