Police witness agrees items could have been planted in Yusoff Rawther’s car before raid

A police officer today agreed that it was possible that Muhammed Yusoff Rawther’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 on the morning of Sept 6 last year.

Prosecution witness Aiman Suhaimi of the Brickfields police’s Criminal Investigation Department, was questioned by defence lawyer Rafique Rashid on the fifth day of the drugs and firearms trial involving Yusoff, a former research assistant in Anwar Ibrahim’s office.

“I put it that someone on the instructions of people associated with Anwar or Farhash planted the pistols and then passed the information to the police, because they were out to ensure that the accused would be taken into police custody and his credibility damaged ahead of the suit against Anwar?” Rafique asked, referring to Anwar’s former political secretary, Farhash Wafa Salvador.

“Not sure,” replied Aiman.

Rafique then repeated his question: “Access (to Yusoff’s car) is an issue, there was no CCTV at night, there were people acting on orders, either Anwar or Farhash or their people jammed the car, planted the pistols, closed the door and then informed the police so that his credibility in his case against Anwar would be ruined?”

“I agree,” said Aiman.

The alleged involvement of Farhash and another close aide of Anwar, his press secretary Tunku Nashrul Tunku Abaidah, is at the heart of Yusoff’s claim that he was a victim of entrapment.

Earlier, the trial had centred on the door of Yusoff’s car, which a police officer who was part of the raiding party claimed was unlocked with a manual key, although it turned out there was no keyhole on the car door.

In his testimony, Aiman said both Farhash and Nashrul had nothing to do with the case.

When asked about a police report filed by Yusoff in which he claimed to have been threatened by Farhash, Aiman said the report was irrelevant as it was filed long before the raid on Sept 6 last year.

“Throughout the investigation, there were no recent cases or instances where Yusoff was threatened or intimidated. I have come to the conclusion that these individuals have no connection to the case under investigation,” he said in response to a question from deputy public prosecutor Mohd Sabri Othman.

Sabri: There was a police report against Farhash Wafa Salvador in 2019. According to your investigation, are there any recent police reports relating to threats or crimes committed by Farhash against Yusoff Rawther?

Aiman: No.

Sabri: Did Yusoff Rawther ever inform you about a judgement in which he and Tunku Nashrul were involved?

Aiman: Yes, I was informed, but I’m not sure about Tunku Nashrul.

Yusoff, 32, is charged under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 36 of the Firearms Act after police claim to have found two fake pistols and 305g of cannabis in his car.

He has maintained that he was framed by people in power who harbour a grudge against him due to his ongoing sexual assault civil suit against Anwar.

Yusoff worked as Anwar’s research assistant at the politician’s bungalow office in Bukit Gasing, Petaling Jaya in 2018. In 2021, he filed a lawsuit alleging that the PKR leader sexually assaulted him in October 2018, just days before he won the Port Dickson by-election.

Anwar has denied the allegations.

In July 2021, Yusoff filed his civil suit against Anwar. The trial has been fixed for June 16 this year.

Yusoff has filed a separate suit against Farhash, claiming damages for the injuries he suffered after he was assaulted at Anwar’s office, as well as against Nashrul over a defamatory media statement made in connection with the assault.

In October 2022, the Shah Alam Sessions Court ordered Nashrul to pay RM200,000 in damages to Yusoff.

The drug and firearms charges against Yusoff attracted attention amid questions over the manner of the police raid, which took place a week after he submitted the list of witnesses for his suit against Anwar.

Meanwhile, Aiman said he had not received Yusoff’s affidavit in connection with his civil suit against Anwar, nor any other documents related to his suits against Farhash and Nashrul.

He said there was no need to refer to the  documents during the investigation as they were not related to the case at hand.

In cross-examination, Aiman disagreed with a suggestion by Rafique that Yusoff’s decision to go ahead with the suit against Anwar was the reason he was framed.

Yusoff named Anwar, Farhash

Speaking to reporters later, Rafique said that in his statement to police as well as in police reports following his arrest, Yusoff had named Anwar and Farhash as those involved in framing him.

“In the witness list for his sexual assault suit, Yusoff stated that he was framed because he was determined to go ahead with the legal action.

“In filing his witness list, Yusoff showed he wanted to pursue the case.

“Within eight to 10 days of filing the list, he was suddenly arrested for firearms and then drugs,” he added.

Following his arrest, Yusoff and his family members filed two police reports with names of people to be investigated, including Farhash. Police have yet to comment on the status of the reports.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Hamzah Zainuddin, Indera Mahkota MP Saifuddin Abdullah and Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, who is also the PAS information chief, were also present at the court today.

The trial continues on April 28.