The lawyer, Manjeet Singh Dhillon, was ordered to be arrested on Monday, and one of Mr Anwar's own defence lawyers, Zainur Zakaria, was sentenced to three months in jail after they submitted an affidavit which the judge, Augustine Paul, declared to be an attempt to subvert the course of justice.

The judge's action against the lawyers drew sharp criticism from human rights groups abroad.

On Wednesday, Manjeet's lawyer, Jagjit Singh, said his client had apologised for the incovenience caused to the court and for the way in which the affadavit had come to light.

The judge responded that the apology was a brave and bold thing to do and "I accept his apology without any reservation."

At the beginning of the week the judge sentenced another of the defence lawyers, Zainur Zakaria, to three months in prison for contempt.

Mr Zainur has refused to apologise but the sentence has since been suspended pending an appeal on Friday.

Anwar Ibrahim: Denies all charges

In the affidavit, Mr Anwar had asked that two prosecutors be discharged from the trial because Mr Manjeet had said they had offered to reduce charges against a client in a separate case if he testified that Anwar had committed sex crimes with five women.

Mr Anwar denies 10 counts of sodomy and corruption - charges which he claims are politically motivated.

He was charged followed his sacking and arrest in September. His trial is at the centre of the current civil unrest in Malaysia.

Contempt of court

Judge Augustine's decision to jail Mr Zainur stunned the courtroom and prompted international concern about whether Mr Anwar would receive a fair trial.

Mr Anwar attacked the development from the dock, saying: "I can't even discuss this with my lawyers now. Where is justice?"

Mr Zainur was sentenced to prison after he refused to apologise for presenting the affidavit.

The claim was supported by a statement from Mr Manjeet.

Both Mr Manjeet and Mr Zainur are former heads of the Malaysian Bar Council.