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Malaysia's Anwar offered police bail
Malaysian opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim has been freed on police bail, his lawyers said on Thursday, but they added he could still be charged for sodomy later.
- AP
- Published: 08:19 July 17, 2008
Kuala Lampur: Malaysian opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim has been freed on police bail, his lawyers said on Thursday, but they added he could still be charged for sodomy later.
"Anwar has left the building at 9.45 am," R. Sivarasa told reporters outside the police headquarters. "He was driven off in his wife's car through the back exit."
A senior police official confirmed Anwar had received police bail. "There is no intention to remand him further," said the official who declined to be identified. "Statements were taken and we will have to decide on next course of action."
The former deputy premier was arrested on Wednesday on a sodomy complaint lodged by a former aide and had spent the night in police custody after the authorities remanded him to help in investigations.
Sodomy, even between consenting adults, is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison in mainly Muslim Malaysia.
A handful or so of Anwar supporters had gathered outside the police headquarters in the city where he was held despite calls by the party for a strong show of support on Thursday morning. There was minimal police presence.
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