Malaysia expected to release Anwar aide - lawyer

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Reuters) Malaysia is expected to release today an aide to senior opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim after a four-day detention over a possible breach of the Official Secrets Act, his lawyer said.

Nathaniel Tan, who works in the information bureau of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat, was taken into custody for possession of documents concerning allegations that Deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharom had taken bribes to free gangsters.

Tan should be released by today afternoon, his lawyer Latheefa Koya told Reuters. He said it was not immediately clear if Tan was being freed on a police bail or a complete release without any charges.

Saturday's detention of Tan, 27, came after authorities closed their investigation into the bribery allegations due to a lack of evidence.

Keadilan is headed by the wife of Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy premier who famously fell from power in 1998 after a row with his boss, then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Anwar, an adviser to Keadilan, is barred from holding political office until next year due to a corruption conviction.

REUTERS PD PM0958