Keadilan's vice-president Tian Chua was released on bail this afternoon after being arrested for failing to turn up in court on Jan 12. He was jointly charged with two others for participating in an illegal assembly in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, in December 1998.

Magistrate Wan Fatimah Wan Yusuf set bail at RM6,000 and objected to Chua's sister, Thien See being the bailor. Chua was bailed out by his friend, Yap Siew Cheng.

Chua told malaysiakini that he was leaving for Sarawak this morning to help out in the state's election campaign when he was arrested at the airport and was taken to the Sungai Buloh Prison.

Wan Fatimah ordered the arrest because she was not satisfied with Chua's explanation on why he was absent for his trial. Tian had said that his personal diary and computer were stolen in a break-in at his house, and he had gotten the dates of his trial mixed up.

Tian is facing eight separate charges for illegal assembly and rioting over the past two years.