(Feb 10): Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sentence of five years' jail was upheld by the Federal Court today which dismissed both applications by the prosecution and the defence.

The judges had earlier walked out after Anwar attacked the judiciary from the dock.

"This is a complete fabrication and a political conspiracy to stop my political career. A full written statement was available on PM's office website minutes after you delivered the judgment, even before the sentencing," he said.

"In bowing to political masters they have disgraced themselves and have become partners in crime in the murder of the judiciary," Anwar said before Arifin asked Anwar's lawyer Sri Ram to tell Anwar to stop.

Sri Ram told Arifin that his client had the right to address the court, to which Arifin retorted "Yes, on the appeal but not to condemn the court".

But the opposition leader continued with his attack, adding "You had the opportunity to right the wrong but you chose to remain on the dark side".

At this juncture, Arifin and the rest of the bench walked out.

Anwar continued to speak and shouted into the microphone "I will again for the third time walk into prison but with my head held high. I will not be silent and will fight for freedom and justice and will never surrender."

Lawyers had earlier said he could be sentenced to just one day in jail or even bound over, under the punishment for Section 377B of the Penal Code.

The prosecution led by Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah was appealing for a longer jail sentence, which can go up to 20 years.

Mitigation and sentencing for Anwar, who will turn 68 this August, began with defence counsel Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram telling the Federal Court bench there was no good reason to enhance Anwar's sentence.

Anwar was sentenced to five years in prison by the Court of Appeal but the prosecution was seeking to enhance the sentence.

Sri Ram  also said that the court could use its discretion to give the opposition leader a lighter sentence under the law. "He is not an ordinary individual. His contribution when he was with the government to this country was numerous and far-reaching.

"Even in the opposition, he has made significant contributions to advancing democratic principles and awakening the conscience of the majority of Malaysians," Sri Ram said in pleading for a lighter sentence.