KUALA LUMPUR, June 22: Malaysia has set free a Sri Lankan businessman suspected to be the middleman in a nuclear parts network allegedly run by Dr A.Q. Khan, security and government officials said on Sunday.

Buhary Syed Abu Tahir was released after four years in detention. He had been held under Malaysia’s tough Internal Security Act (ISA) that allows authorities to detain suspects without charges or trial indefinitely.

Tahir, accused by the United States of helping Dr Khan to sell illicit nuclear technology, had been in detention since 2004 after a police report detailing his involvement in the nuclear black market scandal.

“Mr BSA Tahir has been released from Kamunting in the last few days,” a government official said, referring to a detention camp in northern Malaysia.

A regional security official confirmed Tahir had been released earlier this month.

“But he’s been placed under restricted residence and that he has to report to the police station weekly,” the official said.

—Reuters