Police slammed for double standards as Yusoff marks second anniversary of dramatic arrest amid questions over govt's appeal

The lawyer representing Muhammed Yusoff Rawther in his sexual assault suit against Anwar Ibrahim has again called out the police for failing to act on a shocking police report in which the prime minister was named among those allegedly involved in a conspiracy to frame his client on drugs and firearms charges following a dramatic ambush two years ago.

Rafique Rashid contrasted the silence over the reports lodged by Yusoff with the speed at which police sprang into action to investigate Abdul Hadi Awang, just days after government supporters lodged reports over the PAS leader's claim that the US government had once offered to help the opposition come to power.

“I would like to commend the authorities for their efficiency. The PAS president made the statement on Saturday, PKR Youth lodged a report on Sunday, and within 48 hours the police issued a clear statement.

“Meanwhile, we are still waiting for a clear statement from the police regarding Yusoff’s report, for two years now,” Rafique told reporters after the Court of Appeal fixed Nov 4 for case management on the prosecution's appeal against Yusoff's acquittal last year.

It comes on the second anniversary of Yusoff's dramatic arrest on Sept 6, 2024, after police ambushed his car and later claimed to have found weapons and cannabis in it.

Yusoff, who once worked as a research assistant in Anwar's bungalow office in Petaling Jaya, was acquitted in June last year after spending nine months in jail throughout his trial, which saw police witnesses bumbling when cross-examined.

In police reports filed days after his arrest, Yusoff accused Anwar and his former aide, Farhash Wafa Salvador, of entrapping him with firearms and drugs, adding that both held a grudge against him due to the sexual assault and physical assault suits he filed against them.

Rafique said it has been eight months since he was informed that the investigation paper on Yusoff's police report had been handed to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

“The police stated that recording the statements from other involved witnesses was still pending further instructions from the AGC."

“This is despite the inspector-general of police's standing orders and police standards, which dictate specific investigation timelines and require that the complainant be updated on the status of the investigation every two weeks.”

Rafique reminded Inspector-General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail that the High Court in its judgement had advised investigating officers to record statements from Anwar and Farhash.

“Yet, to this day, after a two-year wait, we have received no confirmation or update. Is this because the names involved belong to prominent, powerful and influential figures? Are the procedures applied here different from those used for others?” he asked.

Yusoff has since left for the United Kingdom, where he is currently awaiting the outcome of his asylum application.

Rafique said that despite this, his client has been adamant that the government's appeal against him should not be delayed.

“At all times, he wants to proceed with the appeal because from day one, he has emphasised that he is a victim of persecution and wants to clear his name.”

Prosecutors today informed the court that they have yet to serve the notice of appeal on Yusoff, part of the process to get him to appear in court.

Deputy public prosecutor Asnawi Abu Hanipah said authorities have also contacted Interpol for assistance in locating Yusoff.

But Rafique stressed that his client was not on the run.

“Yusoff did not abscond. He was acquitted and a free man when he left the country. He was cleared of all charges. He departed because he feared for his safety and sought asylum in the UK on human rights grounds.”

In 2019, Yusoff, who is the grandson of the late Penang consumer advocate SM Mohamed Idris, issued a statutory declaration accusing Anwar of sexually assaulting him on Oct 2, 2018. Anwar has denied the allegations.

A subsequent police investigation saw Yusoff agreeing to take a lie detector test, while Anwar refused, citing the allegations against him as baseless.

Yusoff later filed a suit seeking a court declaration that Anwar committed the sexual assault, as well as general, exemplary and aggravated damages for trauma and physical, psychological and sociological disturbances suffered as a result of the alleged incident.

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

Anwar has since withdrawn the application, but the move resulted in further postponement of the trial. This prompted the appeals court to instruct Anwar to pay RM50,000 in costs to Yusoff.

In late March, Anwar filed another application to postpone the trial pending the court's decision on several questions concerning claims Yusoff made.