Anwar told to respond to damning allegations implicating him, Farhash in Yusoff Rawther trial
Bersatu has urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to break his silence on serious allegations implicating him and a close associate made during the firearms and drugs trial of a former research assistant who is suing him for sexual assault.
The party was referring to statements made by Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, who is fighting charges of drug trafficking and firearms possession following a controversial police raid on his car in September last year.
During the trial earlier this month, Yusoff’s lawyer Rafique Rashid said his client believed he was framed by people in power and that the items had been planted in his car.
Rafique had also said that Yusoff had mentioned to the police that Anwar and his former political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador had a bone to pick with him due to Yusoff’s complaints against them.
“These are very serious allegations and have very serious legal implications that could result in the death penalty if convicted. However, to date, there has been no official denial, public statement or legal action by the prime minister or Farhash against these allegations,” said Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq, chairman of Bersatu’s Legal & Constitution Bureau.
“I urge the prime minister to publicly deny the allegations, which have been clearly stated in court, to protect the dignity of his office and to avoid any public suspicion on the credibility and integrity of the country’s leadership.”
Yusoff, the grandson of the late Penang consumer advocate SM Mohamed Idris, is charged under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 36 of the Firearms Act.
According to the charge sheet, police found drugs and firearms in Yusoff’s car after it was brought to the Dang Wangi police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur following a police ambush on the morning of Sept 6 last year.
Yusoff has strongly denied the claims and has filed two police reports with names of people to be investigated.
His family members have recounted how Yusoff was restrained while police searched the car and claimed to have found two pistols and 305g of cannabis.
The incident occurred a week after Yusoff submitted the list of witnesses for his sexual assault suit against Anwar, which has been fixed for trial on June 16.
During cross-examination of a prosecution witness, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed the defence to refer to documents from Yusoff’s civil suit against Anwar.
“We need to establish who gave the instructions (to frame him), if there were instructions. Why does he think he was set up?
“From day one, Yusoff has consistently claimed he was framed,” Rafique had said.
The court had also focused on the door of Yusoff’s car after a police officer who was part of the raiding party claimed that it was unlocked using a manual key.
A court inspection of the car revealed that there was no keyhole on the car door.
On April 11, a police officer conceded in cross-examination with the defence that it was possible that Yusoff’s car had been accessed on the instructions of influential individuals, during which drugs and pistols were planted before an anonymous tip-off that led to the raid.
Meanwhile, Khaliq said the court’s decision to allow the defence to produce documents related to the sexual assault suit against Anwar will have far-reaching consequences.
“The truth must be established. Slander — if it is indeed slander — must be responded to with action, not silence. If the prime minister is convinced that he is innocent, the people have the right to hear the denial clearly and officially,” he added.
