The judge cited Mr Anwar's legal team for contempt of court when the lawyers refused to make their closing arguments, saying that it would not be proper to do so until their application for the judge to step down had been heard.

Simon Ingram reports: "A political conspiracy?"

The team submitted their application last week for Judge Augustine Paul, who sits as sole judge and juror, to disqualify himself.

Mr Anwar is on trial for four charges relating to corruption and abuse of office. He has also been charged on a further five counts of engaging in illegal sex.

Mr Anwar has denied all the charges and says he is the victim of a political conspiracy.

Wife 'fears worst'

Wan Azizah Ismail: Fears the worst

Mr Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Ismail, said that, knowing that her husband realistically faces several years in prison and the end of his political career, she now fears the worst.

She told BBC World that her husband feels he has been denied a basic right provided in the Malaysian constitution.

"He actually sees this as a travesty of justice and disrespect for the law. By refusing his right to have his petition heard by the learned judge, that has gone against a fundamental convention in the system of justice.

Wan Azizah Ismail speaking on BBC World: "He sees this as a travesty of justice."

"I do fear for the worst... My husband has been dimissed, actually he has been prosecuted, before the trial has even started - so this is just going through the motions," Wan Azizah Ismail said.

Concerns over fairness

Mr Anwar alleged in an affidavit accompanying the application for the judge to stand down that he had not been given a fair trial, and said he had grave apprehensions that the judge might not bring an impartial and unprejudiced mind to the case.

But the attorney general, who is leading the prosecution team, said they had not received the defence motion for the judge to disqualify himself, so the trial could continue.

Defence counsel Raja Aziz Addruse said the defence would pursue their bid to discharge Judge Paul, but ruled out going to the chief justice.

"We have said it is not the proper procedure. Once the matter has been filed in court, it must be argued in court," he said, without further elaboration.

The action was supported by another of Mr Anwar's lawyers, Sivarasa Rasiah who is not involved in the trial.

"From a legal stand point was the absolutely correct position to take. The judge unfortunately took a very technical position that the motion was not fixed for hearing before him and therefore insisted on their proceeding. I think he really failed to see the point that they could not proceed until that application of their was heard and disposed of," Mr Sivarasa said.

Contempt declared

However when the defence team refused to conclude the case, Justice Augustine Paul cited them all for contempt of court for interfering in the proper course of justice.

The prosecution lawyers ended their case, saying they had proved beyond doubt that Mr Anwar was guilty of the four charges of misuse of power to cover up allegations of sexual misconduct.

"It is our submission the defence has failed to rebut the prosecution's case," said chief prosecutor Attorney-General Mohtar Abdullah.