Three doctors testified that Mr Anwar's bruises to the head and neck were consistent with an assault, and not self-inflicted as initially suggested by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"It's fortunate this man did not succumb to death. He's just lucky," Dr Halim Mansar, a forensic consultant at Kuala Lumpur General Hospital, told an independent commission investigating injuries Mr Anwar sustained after being arrested in September.

He said Mr Anwar's injuries were located in the "lethal areas" of the neck and forehead.

'A fist or blunt instrument'

A government doctor, Vasantha Ponniah told the inquiry that Mr Anwar's injuries were probably caused by being hit with considerable force by a fist or a blunt instrument.

She said when she went to examine him in prison she was told not to ask Mr Anwar how he sustained his injuries.

Nine days after he was arrested, Mr Anwar appeared in court with a black eye and bruises, triggering widespread condemnations from human rights groups .

An eye doctor told the hearing that Mr Anwar "was assaulted over the left forehead and neck and received blunt trauma" that resulted in eyelid bruises.

Dr Ahmad Sukri Mohamed said he examined Mr Anwar nine days after the incident following a request by the former deputy prime minister's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Anwar absent from hearing

Anwar Ibrahim himself was due to appear before the inquiry, but the judge in his ongoing criminal trial refused several requests to adjourn the proceedings for half a day.

The commission said it would be unfair to insist on Mr Anwar's presence if he felt it was important to attend his own trial, and have arranged a special sitting on Sunday to hear his testimony.

Mr Anwar has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of corruption and sexual misconduct at the trial. He says the charges are politically motivated because of his opposition to the prime minister.