Former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim says he was blindfolded and beaten unconscious during his first night in detention 10 days ago.
Appearing in court yesterday with a black eye and a badly bruised neck and arm, Anwar, 51, told graphically of his alleged mistreatment.
Describing the first night he was detained under the Internal Security Act, he said: 'I was asked to stand up. I was boxed very hard on the left side of the temple and right part of the head.
'I was hit very hard on the left part of the neck. I was then slapped very hard until blood seeped from my nose and my lips were cut.' Anwar said that when he was semi-conscious the police helped him clean up his nose and lips.
Sessions court Judge Hasnah Mohamed Hashim asked Anwar whether he had lodged a police report, and Anwar replied not until a later date.
Pawancheek Merican, one of Anwar's lawyers, said his client claimed he was blindfolded while being beaten and could not tell how many officers were involved.
Anwar told the court that after the alleged beating on his first night he was unconscious until morning.
