A lawyer representing PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has objected  to the high-handed action by the Prisons Department that requires a lawyer meeting a convicted person in court to surrender their mobile phones.

Rafie Mohd Shafie ( pix, below ) voiced his strong objection to the requirement at the Kuala Lumpur Syariah Court of Appeal today where he is representing Anwar.

"Is the court ta king instructions from the Prisons Department? Even the civil courts do not impose such a requirement." he said.

This is a clear contempt and as if the court is subject to the prison authorities," he added.

"I want to meet my client in court but they require me to surrender my mobile phone. Who knows if they (the authorities) put something in my phone?

"As a result of not complying  with this, I am prevented from seeing Anwar," said Rafie.

Syariah Court of Appeal Judge Mahammad Ibrahim recorded the objection but did not make any ruling.

Court officials and police also prevented reporters and the public from bringing their mobile phones into the courtroom.

Reporters, however,  refused to comply  with the  requirement stating they needed their devices to perform their jobs.

Police escort from prison

Before hearing began, Anwar was brought into the courtroom via a side entrance. Wearing a black blazer and a white long-sleeved shirt, he embraced several supporters present including Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali.

Rafie is representing Anwar at the latter's 'qazaf' (bearing false witness) appeal which resumed today.

Anwar ( pix below) filed the application for 'qazaf' on his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan in January 2010 and demanded the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) and the chief prosecutor take action.

After court proceedings ended today, Rafie along with counsel Kamar Ainiah Kamaruzaman asked the court for one hour for them to meet Anwar to which Mahammad allowed.

The two lawyers were not required to hand over their mobile phones to the Prisons Departments officers present.

Anwar also managed to meet family members during this time, the second occasion since he began serving his sentence on Feb 10 after the Federal Court dismissed his appeal against the conviction.

The Prisons Department van from the Sungai Buloh prison carrying the 67-year-old politician was escorted by three traffic policemen and two police patrol cars.

At the court, there was a police truck with scores of policemen stationed in and around the courtroom.