Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah issued the warning after deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran told the court that Zahid’s daughter, Nurulhidayah, had posted about his case on Instagram.

“She and others should not be commenting on the case,” Raja Rozela said.

In response, Sequerah said: “This court has to issue a warning as this act is subjudice in nature. Such comments should not be made while the case is ongoing.”

Zahid’s lawyer, Hamidi Mohd Noh, apologised to the court, adding that Nurulhidayah would delete her Instagram post.

Checks on Nurulhidayah’s Instagram page later found that the post had been deleted. She also posted an apology today, saying “it will not happen again”.

Zahid is standing trial on 47 charges of money laundering and criminal breach of trust involving funds from Yayasan Akalbudi, and accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as home minister.

The court is hearing submissions from the defence at the close of the prosecution’s case this week while the prosecution is expected to submit next week.