Malaysia

Anwar released on bail

Article published on the 2008-07-17 Latest update 2008-07-17 09:03 TU

Anwar Ibrahim.
(Photo : Reuters)

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was released on bail on Thursday after spending the night in jail. He said that the sodomy accusations made by a former aide are part of a “personal vendetta” against him.

“I don’t deserve this. No Malaysian deserves this. Why treat me like a major criminal?” Anwar told the French news agency AFP.

The 60-year-old reports having spent the night in a concrete cell with no bed or blanket, after having been submitted to medical examinations, including the measuring of his genitals.

Anwar said he is being targeted because of allegations he made against the Attorney General and the Chief of Police regarding his first trial and incarceration. He was convicted of sodomy in 1998, but released in 2004 by the Supreme Court after evidence tampering was discovered. Anwar was also severely beaten during his first arrest, spurring more worries about his safety this time around.

Anwar said that he refused to give a DNA sample during his detention because tampered DNA evidence was used against him during his first trial.

The opposition leader was arrested outside his home Wednesday, even though he had a scheduled interview with the police later the same afternoon.