Anwar's petition for a writ of habeas corpus was dismissed five days before he was to stand trial on corruption charges on Monday.

The writ petition had been filed while Anwar was being held under the Internal Security Act (ISA), which was lifted on October 14.

``On these plain and obvious grounds, there is no merit in pursuing this application after the applicant had been released (from ISA detention) to Sungei Buloh (prison) under court remand,'' judge Abdul Wahab Patail said in the ruling.

``It ought to be dismissed immediately and I cannot lend it any appearance of propriety by referring it to another judge,'' he added.

Meanwhile, a businessman jailed on a charge of having sexual relations with Anwar has sought release and questioned his conviction, press reports said today.

A habeas corpus petition for Sukma Darmawan Sasmitaat Madja, anIndonesian-born interior designer described as an adopted brother of Anwar, was filed yesterday in the high court by his sister Komalawati Sasmita, newspapers said.

Anwar, who has denied charges of sexual misconduct and corruption, is also seeking release under a habeas corpus petition, under which a court can compel the police to produce and release a person in their custody.

Sukma, 37, and a Pakistani scientist who wrote speeches for Anwar, Munawar Ahmad Anees, 51, were each jailed for six months on September 19 for allegedly engaging in sodomy with Anwar.

Anwar, 51, was arrested shortly after the two men's conviction but has dismissed sexual and corruption charges filed against him as politically motivated.