But senior police official Abdul Aziz Hussein who led the squad investigating the sex charges told the court he received direct orders from his police bosses to ensure Anwar's accuser withdrew the allegations.

Ummi Hafilda Ali was taken in for questioning in August 1997 after she accused Anwar of engaging in sodomy with his driver and with her sister-in-law the wife of Anwar's former private secretary.

She was subjected to a non-stop police interrogation for eight hours during which she was threatened that she could be charged under the country's draconian security laws, which allow for detention without trial, Aziz told the court.

He said the aim of the investigation was to ``turn-over'' or ``neutralise'' Ummi as well as the driver, Azizan Abu Bakar, ``to retract their accusations so thatthey are no longer a threat.''

Anwar is on trial for four corruption charges alleging he used his position to quash the police investigation into the sex accusations.

The former protege of prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has denied the charges as well as a fifth corruption charge and five of sodomy maintaining, he is the victim of a political conspiracy.