KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 12): A former aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was charged with drug trafficking at the Magistrate's Court here on Thursday.
Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, who has an ongoing sexual assault suit against Anwar, was charged with one count of trafficking 305 grammes of cannabis at the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters' surau last Friday.
The charge against the 31-year-old is framed under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same Act, which carries a life sentence and also a whipping of not less than 12 lashes, if convicted.
However, no plea was recorded before Magistrate S Arunjothy, as the case falls under the High Court's jurisdiction. The case will be mentioned again at the High Court for a plea to be recorded at a later date.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Sabri Othman appeared for the prosecution, while Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali appeared for Yusoff on Thursday.
Yusoff's sexual assault case against Anwar is slated to begin in June next year.
According to the suit filed in July 2021, Yusoff alleged that the incident took place on Oct 2, 2018, in Anwar’s residence in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur.
Yusoff claimed that following his police report on the matter, he was accused of plotting to bring Anwar down and damage the PKR president’s political career.
The alleged sexual assault and the accusation have also allegedly affected Yusoff’s mental health. He is seeking from Anwar special, general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.
Anwar, who is the Pakatan Harapan chairman, has denied the claim and filed a countersuit.
Yusoff’s civil suit comes after he made a statutory declaration and a police report in 2019 over the incident.
In January 2020, the Attorney General’s Chambers said it would not press charges against Anwar.