Prosecutors fabricated evidence in the corruption trial of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, his lawyers charged as they made a final bid to clear his name in the country's highest court today.

The accusation sparked a walk-out by attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail, who led the 1999 prosecution of Anwar and is appearing for the government in a Federal Court review of the case.

However this is nothing new as Abdul Gani has always left the court-room whenever such accusations are raised.

Anwar's lawyers want his conviction for corruption thrown out, which would allow him to return immediately to politics after being freed last week after nearly six years in jail when the same court overturned his sodomy conviction.

The court unanimously agreed on Tuesday to review its own 2002 decision to reject his appeal in the corruption case, and lawyers began presenting arguments yesterday.

"In this case there was compelling evidence that the two prosecutors, one of whom is unfortunately Abdul Gani Patail were caught red handed in attempting to fabricate evidence against Anwar," lawyer Christopher Fernando told the three-man bench.

"Their conduct is so serious and heinous no court in the civilised world should condone it," he said.

The corruption charge against Anwar claimed he had abused his powers to interfere with police investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

"We have a situation where the judge was biased and the prosecutors conducted themselves in an unprofessional manner to initiate the proceedings.

"Anwar was denied a fair hearing. We urge the court to correct this travesty of justice and set aside the conviction," Fernando said.

Three options

For the government, prosecutor Mohamad Yusof said Anwar's lawyers were trying to reopen an issue which had already been rejected in three previous court hearings and urged the judges to dismiss the application.

Lawyers say the judges have three options: to set aside the conviction, dismiss the application or order a new appeal hearing.

The judges later set next Wednesday to deliver their judgment .

Anwar is in Germany where he underwent spinal surgery Monday for an injury he says was caused by a police beating after his arrest in 1998. Doctors say the operation was successful , and he is expected back in Malaysia in a few weeks.

His immediate political future now depends on the decision by the Federal Court. If his corruption conviction is not overturned he will be barred from taking part in politics until 2008.

Anwar was heir-apparent to then-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad before being sacked in 1998 and later sentenced to a total of 15 years in jail on charges which he says were trumped up to prevent him challenging Mahathir for the premiership.

He has already served his sentence for corruption, during which time he was considered a political prisoner by the United States and human rights groups, which said his trials were unfair.