KUWAIT CITY, April 22 (UPI) -- A Kuwaiti opposition leader was freed Monday and released on bail after a judge quashed his jail sentence for insulting the nation's ruler, officials say.
Musallam al-Barrak last week was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of undermining the status of Sheik Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Gulf News reported.
Appellate Court Judge Anwar al-Enezi instead ordered Barrak to post bond of $17,500 and allowed him to go home.
The ruling came after two hours of testimony in which about three dozen attorneys volunteered to defend the former member of Parliament.
The judge allowed four lawyers to defend Barrak in a relay fashion.
The lead lawyer, Mohammad al-Jasem, said sending his client to jail would put his life at risk although he didn't say why. Jasem and the other defense lawyers requested the judge give them time to review the case.
Barrak denied that he had addressed Kuwait's ruler in a "derogatory way" during a speech in October.
