EU regrets denial of bail to Anwar

EU regrets denial of bail to Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): The European Union said on Tuesday it regretted that Malaysia's sacked finance minister Anwar Ibrahim had been refused bail in his corruption and sex trial.

In its second statement in two months on Anwar's case, the EU said it was concerned Malaysian authorities had not published the results of an investigation into his allegations he was beaten while in police custody.

Anwar, who was fired and arrested in September, has pleaded not guilty to five counts each of corruption and sodomy, saying he was the victim of a high-level conspiracy to destroy his political career.

He has been in custody since he was arrested on Sept. 20 after leading thousands of antigovernment protesters through the capital calling on Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to step down after 17 years in power.