‘Pin drop silence’ from IGP over Yusoff Rawther’s claim that Anwar, Farhash behind guns and drugs ambush, says lawyer

The lawyer representing Yusoff Rawther - the 33-year-old behind a long-delayed sexual assault suit against Anwar Ibrahim - has again questioned the authorities on the status of a police report by his client accusing the prime minister and his former aide, Farhash Wafa Salvador, of entrapping him with firearms and drugs, which led to his controversial arrest in September 2024.

Rafique Rashid said that nearly two years since the police ambush on Yusoff and his subsequent acquittal nine months later, there has been "pin drop silence" on whether Anwar and Farhash have been questioned over the claims.

“On Sept 12, 2024, a police report was lodged clearly naming Anwar and Farhash as the two individuals, as well as recordings of Yusoff's conversation during the police investigation in which he named these two individuals. Until now, there is 'pin drop silence' from the inspector-general of police.

"Again, in the spirit of good governance preached by Anwar himself, we ask the IGP, what has happened to the investigation?” Rafique told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

Earlier, the court heard an application by Anwar that could possibly further delay the commencement of the trial on Yusoff’s sexual assault suit filed in 2021.

Anwar through his newly appointed lawyers is seeking the court to rule on three questions concerning claims Yusoff made in his suit, as well as a request that the questions be deliberated virtually instead of in a physical court to avoid attracting “intense public and media attention".

"The preliminary issues and/or questions raised should be heard and disposed of by way of affidavits or, in the alternative, in camera and/or by remote communication, to the exclusion of members of the media, members of the public, journalists and/or any persons not directly involved in the proceedings," said a notice filed by law firm Christopher & Lee Ong late last month.

The ruling being sought by Anwar pertains to a claim by Yusoff that Anwar's private secretary, Shukri Saad, had instructed Yusoff to personally deliver the text of a speech to the PKR president at his residence in Bukit Segambut Dalam on Oct 2, 2018, when the sexual assault allegedly took place.

Anwar also disputed the claim that his bodyguard, Norafee Ahmad @ Dekdi, had accompanied Yusoff to the house, as well as whether a meeting between Yusoff and Anwar actually took place, adding that his daughter, Nurul Nuha Anwar, was with him at all times when the alleged assault took place.

The latest application comes days after Anwar settled a RM50,000 payment of costs to Yusoff, due to delays caused by the prime minister’s application for immunity from the sexual assault suit, which he withdrew last month.

On May 4, the court is expected to decide on whether or not to allow the application.

‘Yusoff eager to come to court’

Rafique said the judge today reminded Anwar’s lawyers to notify the court if there were any further questions or applications.

He said it showed that the judge was eager for the trial to begin without further delay, adding that his client had been prepared for years to face Anwar in court.

“What I can confirm is that Yusoff wants to come to court to see this case completed as soon as possible. He should be given the opportunity to present his case and to face the person who attacked him,” said Rafique.

The suit filed by Yusoff, who was a research assistant at Anwar's bungalow office in Petaling Jaya, alleges that the PKR leader sexually assaulted him on Oct 2, 2018, just days before he won the Port Dickson by-election.

He is seeking a court declaration that Anwar committed the sexual assault, as well as general, exemplary and aggravated damages for suffering trauma and physical, psychological and sociological disturbances as a result of the alleged incident.

Anwar has denied the allegations.

Just three weeks before the trial was scheduled to begin on June 16 last year, Anwar made an unprecedented move to seek immunity and a postponement of the case.

That controversial application was filed while Yusoff was still remanded at Sungai Buloh Prison pending the outcome of his trial on charges of drug trafficking and firearms.

On June 12, Yusoff was acquitted of the charges, following a trial that saw prosecution witnesses bumbling during cross-examination, lending credence to widespread speculation that he was the victim of a conspiracy by politically connected individuals.

In a police report, Yusoff named Anwar and Farhash among those who harboured a grudge against him.

Rafique today warned that continued silence from the authorities on the status of the police report would only confirm the public’s suspicion that double standards are being applied.

"If there is no response from the police chief, then it confirms that in Malaysia, if you are the prime minister, you have power, you are a good friend of the prime minister and you are close to the prime minister, you will not be questioned. But if you oppose the prime minister, a patrol car will visit you at 3 am,” said Rafique, in an apparent jibe at Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil’s infamous threat in 2023 that social media users posting comments critical of him would receive a visit from the police.