KUALA LUMPUR – Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, who is embroiled in a sexual assault suit against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has been remanded for alleged gun and drug possession.
Lawyer Rafique Rashid said that Yusoff, who is Anwar’s former research assistant, had denied the accusations against him. He insisted that the two guns and roughly 305g of a drug, suspected to be marijuana, were “planted” in his car by certain quarters with a grudge against him.
“Yusoff has clearly informed investigating authorities that the guns and drugs do not belong to him and he has no association with the items,” the lawyer said in a statement today.
“Besides testing negative for drugs in a urine test, Yusoff also said in his statement to police that the guns and drugs were planted by those who have a grudge or enmity against him.”
Yusoff had provided police with the names of the individuals in question as well as their “links to national political leaders”.
Yusoff was detained by Kuala Lumpur police at around 9.30am on September 6, following which the prohibited materials were found in his car, leading to his remand on the same day.
Investigations, Rafique said, are being conducted under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 after police’s initial remand application under the Arms Act 1960 was denied.
His remand order is expected to end tomorrow.
“Yusoff is very worried about his personal safety (as) his ongoing civil cases involving influential figures with their own sensitivities remain ongoing.
“Yusoff’s family stands by him and hopes that the Royal Malaysian Police will be professional in executing their duties.”
Rafique added that a police report has been filed by Yusoff on the matter to ensure that his defence is not labelled as an “afterthought”.
On July 14, 2021, Yusoff filed a suit claiming that Anwar sexually assaulted him.
He had sought, among others, special, general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.
Anwar, in his statement of defence filed on September 28, 2021, claimed that Muhammed Yusoff had lied under oath to the authorities regarding the sexual assault.
According to the PKR president, who filed a counterclaim on the same date (September 28), his former aide had concocted a story about sexual assault to tarnish his political career to ensure he does not become prime minister.
On September 9, 2022, the Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed Yusoff’s application to strike out several paragraphs in Anwar’s statement of defence and counterclaim. – September 11, 2024