Riot police took up positions in the centre of Kuala Lumpur last night as Malaysia braced itself for the verdict in a trial which will decide the future of one of the most prominent men in Asian politics.
High Court Judge Augustine Paul will rule today whether former deputy prime minister Mr Anwar Ibrahim is guilty on any of four corruption charges, each carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail and a 20,000 ringgit (£3,000) fine.
Whatever the outcome, Mr Anwar will face other legal hurdles before he can re-enter party politics and challenge Malaysia's long-serving Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The sometimes bizarre trial has been followed closely outside Malaysia as a test of Malaysia's political and judicial system.
The case of Mr Anwar, the only politician besides Dr Mahathir with nation-wide appeal, has generated deep suspicions of a political conspiracy to bring down an honest politician.
A jail sentence will raise tensions among followers who have rallied since Mr Anwar's arrest in September under the slogan of reformasi (reform).
About 100 special police with 20 trucks and buses and two water cannons arrived yesterday outside the courthouse in Merdeka (independence) Square, where the 77day trial took place.
About 30 protesters gathered briefly to shout their support but there was an air of resignation among the demonstrators.
"Whatever happens, Mahathir will stay in power and he will still win the elections," said an Islamic student angrily.
Mr Anwar's wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, yesterday braced herself for a conviction.
"I still have a glimmer of hope that it will be a happy ending," she said in her suburban home, "but given the fact that the judge did not allow many of our witnesses to come forward, most probably the verdict will be otherwise."
The former minister says he expects a two- to four-year sentence.
A sentence of one year or a fine of 2,000 ringgit (£300) would be enough to disqualify him from serving in parliament for five years from the date of his release from jail.
Acting as a surrogate for her husband, Dr Wan Azizah formed a pro-reform party last week.
However, even a coalition of all opposition groups has little chance of defeating Dr Mahathir's UMNO party in general elections which must be called within 14 months, especially with the economy recovering from its recent crisis.
Dr Mahathir declared before the trial that his former protege was morally unfit to rule and had planned to oust him with Indonesia-style riots.
Mr Anwar alleges that associates of Dr Mahathir plotted against him so he could not expose cronyism and corruption at the top. The corruption charges on which Judge Augustine Paul will rule are:
(1) That from August 12th to 18th, 1997, Mr Anwar directed two police officers to obtain a written statement from his former driver denying an allegation of sodomy to save himself from embarrassment.
(2) That on August 27th, 1997, Mr Anwar directed two police officers to obtain a written statement from another witness denying the allegation of sodomy to protect himself from criminal action.
(3) That from August 12th-18th, 1997, Mr Anwar directed two police officers to obtain a written statement from the sister of his private secretary denying allegations of sexual misconduct and sodomy by Mr Anwar.
(4) That on August 27th, 1997, Mr Anwar directed two police officers to obtain written statements from another witness denying allegations of sexual misconduct and sodomy.
A fifth corruption charge and charges of sodomy with five different men are still outstanding.