The presiding judge Augustine Paul sentenced one of his defence lawyers to three months' imprisonment after he refused to apologise for submitting an affidavit alleging that prosecutors tried to fabricate evidence against Mr Anwar.

The lawyer, Zainur Zakaria, asked for two days to prepare his defence but was allowed only fifteen minutes before being jailed for contempt of court.

The judge issued an arrest warrant for another lawyer, Manjeet Singh Dhillon, who is representing a businessman friend of Mr Anwar's being tried in a separate case.

In the affidavit filed by Mr Zainur on Saturday, the former deputy prime minsiter accused prosecutors of trying to get the friend, Nallakarruppan Solaimalai, to fabricate evidence of sex crimes by him.

The judge ordered Mr Zainur jailed after the lawyer said he would not apologise for filing the affidavit.

"I have to act to ensure the integrity of this trial is not affected in any way. I shall therefore impose three months' imprisonment," the judge said.

Mr Anwar was sacked and arrested in September, and his corruption and sex trial is at the centre of civil unrest in Malaysia. He has pleaded not guilty to all 10 counts.