Malaysian opposition leader bailed
Anwar Ibrahim has been bailed
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Thursday, 17, Jul 2008 12:09
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.