The Court of Appeal had "abdicated its independence" in overturning a High Court decision to acquit PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim of sodomy charges, a Filipino activist who had been an observer at Anwar's sodomy trials said in a statement today.

Harry Roque questioned the appellate court's decisions, saying that "no court in this planet" would have convicted Anwar on the basis of DNA evidence that had no direct link to the person.

The integrity of the DNA evidence being used by the prosecution in the trial has been extensively questioned by Anwar's lawyers.

"This kind of a conclusion would not have been possible in the Philippines or any other jurisdiction with the semblance of an independent judiciary," he said.

"The fact that the Malaysian Appellate Court convicted him under this dubious condition could only mean that it abdicated its independence and agreed to be a tool of the ruling party, Umno, and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, in an effort to stymie Anwar and the rest of the country’s opposition into surrendering," he added.

He said the question now is whether the Federal Court would "exhibit independence" and acquit Anwar, or would it be "swayed by the ruling party, as did the Court of Appeal".

"In a way, what I observed was the Malaysian courts being on trial, not just Anwar Ibrahim's case," he said.

He said the Federal Court's eventual verdict will also be a verdict on the judiciary's independence and integrity.

The hearing for Anwar's final appeal on his sodomy charge is expected to conclude this Tuesday.

In March, the Court of Appeal sentenced Anwar to five years in prison after overturning a High Court decision in 2012 to acquit him.

Roque, who is one of the six official international observers for the Sodomy II trial at the Federal Court, represents the international body Centre for International Law