New York-based Human Rights Watch has called on the Court of Appeal to grant bail to jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is serving time on what supporters say are politically motivated charges of corruption and sodomy.

Anwar has served four years in jail on the corruption charge and is seeking bail while awaiting the outcome of an appeal against the sodomy conviction.

Court of Appeal judges have told Anwar's lawyers they expect to make a decision at 3pm today. They have been considering the case since argument ended on July 23 after a hearing which began last April.

"Anwar has already been in jail for more than five years," said Brad Adams, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division.

"He has been beaten and denied medical care, he was forced to sit through a trial that made a mockery of justice."

"Releasing Anwar would end the injustice he's suffered and signal a renewed spirit of independence for Malaysia's judiciary."

'Trumped up' charges

Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad sacked the charismatic and popular Anwar in 1998 and he was later sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison for corruption and sodomy.

Anwar says the charges were trumped up to prevent him from making a challenge for the premiership.

He wants to travel abroad for treatment for a slipped disc in his back, which he says was injured by a police assault when he was first arrested.

Anwar appeared in court Monday in a wheelchair and wearing a neck brace. - AFP