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 21 August 2008 21:05 BST

Malaysian opposition leader bailed

Thursday, 17 Jul 2008 12:09
Anwar Ibrahim has been bailed
The main opposition figurehead in Malaysia has been bailed by police after being arrested at gunpoint over claims he sexually assaulted a male office volunteer.

Anwar Ibrahim was arrested on Wednesday before a deadline for him to appear at a police station to begin questioning expired.

Mr Ibrahim was deputy premier a decade ago when he was convicted and jailed for six years over sodomy charges.

Speaking to reporters today, he said the police had arrested him due to a personal vendetta.

"I don't deserve this. No Malaysian deserves this. Why treat me as a major criminal and a public enemy? Mind you they have no case against me," he said.

The opposition leader was freed after paying the $47,000 (£23,000) bail terms.

Earlier, he claimed the latest allegations were a "repeat of the 1998 script" to derail his political comeback.

"There's no basis for this whole fabrication and malicious attacks. I will challenge them on every ground," Mr Ibrahim commented.

Sodomy is a criminal offence in mainly-Muslim Malaysia even between consenting adults and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.

The charges have been levelled by Mohamad Saiful Bukjari Azlan, a volunteer in the opposition leader's office.

But deputy police chief Ismail Omar said no charges had yet been levelled.

The arrest is a massive blow to the political opposition in Malaysia who made inroads against the ruling party in elections held in March.End of story


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