KUALA LUMPUR — Former research officer Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, 31, was charged in the magistrate’s court here today with trafficking 305 grams of cannabis.
Yusoff, who worked in that position previously for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim while the latter was in the opposition, allegedly committed the offence last Friday.
He nodded when the charge was read out to him before magistrate S. Arunjothy in court today, and no plea was recorded as the case is under the jurisdiction of the high court, Bernama reports.
According to the charge sheet, Yusoff committed the offence in a parking area in front of the Kuala Lumpur Contingent Police Headquarters (IPK) surau at 10.15am on September 6.
The charge, framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, is punishable with life imprisonment and also whipping of not less than 12 lashes upon conviction.
The court set November 12 for mention for submission of the chemist report.
Yusoff was represented by lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali while deputy public prosecutor Mohd Sabri Othman appeared for the prosecution.
Rafique later told the media that he would be submitting application for bail for his client, who will be jailed at the Sg Buloh Prison.
He also urged police to investigate two reports Yusoff lodged in which the accused claimed the drugs were planted.
Rafique said he believed Yusoff, who has brought a sexual assault case against Anwar in a civil suit, “is being persecuted”.
Yusoff was detained in Kuala Lumpur on September 6, following which two guns and drugs were found in his car, leading to his remand on the same day.
The accused is currently in a legal battle with Anwar over alleged sexual assault. Yusoff filed the suit in July 2021.
Anwar denied the allegation in his statement of defence filed in September the same year, and also filed a counter-claim against Yusoff. — September 12, 2024