KUALA LUMPUR (April 11): A police inspector told the High Court on Friday that if Muhammad Yusoff Rawther was having problems with the car locks, the car should have been parked inside the condominium’s parking area and not outside the condo’s premises.

Inspector Aiman Mohd Suhaimi, 32, who is the investigating officer in the fake pistols case, in replying to questions from deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Mohd Sabri Othman, agreed that the accused had informed him that he (Yusoff) was having problems with the car locks.

“He informed me that the car was loaned to him by his auntie, one Khadijah Mohd Idris. Yusoff informed me that there is only one set of car remote control and keys, as he had lost the other set when moving to the condo.

“Khadijah also informed me [of this] when I interviewed her, agreeing that there are problems with the car locks. She informed me that the car had been having problems for the past two weeks before Yusoff's arrest,” he said.

However, when asked by Sabri, the witness said Yusoff’s car was parked outside the condo premises on Sept 5, 2024, after he returned from grocery shopping in Bangsar at 10pm. The witness said Yusoff stayed at the condo with his girlfriend.

“The accused told me that he did not want to park the Nissan Teana inside the condo as he had to drive the vehicle up four floors to reach the parking space and opted to park outside. He told me that he was having a problem with the car lock, but when I inspected the vehicle a few days later, I could open the back passenger seat and other car doors,” Aiman said.

“If he has problems with the locks to his vehicle, it would have been safer for him to park the vehicle inside the condo parking lot rather than place it outside the condo,” the 12th prosecution witness added.

The police officer was addressing the defence’s claims over the possibility that the fake pistols and 300.1 grammes of cannabis retrieved from the car had been “planted” to implicate Yusoff. It is the defence's contention that as Yusoff has an ongoing suit against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, with whom he had worked as a research officer, these criminal charges were proffered to tarnish Yusoff’s reputation.

When asked by the prosecution whether Yusoff had custody and control of the black bag containing the fake pistols, Aiman agreed that the accused had custody and control of the items as the bag was found inside the car.

The police officer was also shown two news articles by the defence on the possibility of a device to unlock vehicles without the presence of the remote control.

When cross-examined by Yusoff’s counsels Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali and Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, Aiman agreed to their contention over the possibility that the fake guns could have been planted.

Prior to this, Rafique had shown the news articles that quoted Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department Director Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain warning the public of the presence of such devices, and pointed out that the time frame of Yusoff parking his car on returning from Bangsar and the police raid the next morning might have run from eight to 10 hours. The police officer agreed with the defence that it was possibile that in that duration between Yusoff’s return and the police raid, the doors to the Nissan Teana could have been opened and the guns placed there.

He also agreed with Takiyuddin's contention that it was not probable for Yusoff to bring his girlfriend in the car with the bag containing the fake guns placed under the front passenger seat, as this would have endangered her and himself if apprehended.

Furthermore, the prosecution witness agreed to the defence’s contention that the Nissan Teana was parked outside so as to enable Yusoff’s girlfriend to park her car in the condo parking lot.

Aiman was also shown a news portal report in 2020, following the Attorney General’s Chambers’ decision not to take any action on Yusoff’s sexual assault claim. The report allegedly quoted Anwar as tweeting that he would not forgive Yusoff (for the accusation), and the police officer agreed with the defence that there was the possibility that the politician (Anwar) may still harbour revenge and hatred against Yusoff over the years.

The witness was earlier shown by the defence a witness list for Yusoff’s civil case against Anwar, scheduled to begin in June this year, which was submitted to court on Aug 27, 2024, approximately 10 days before the accused’s arrest. The witness agreed with the possibility, as claimed by the defence, that the politician may harbour revenge.

The police inspector also agreed with the defence’s contention that Anwar is now one of the most powerful persons in Malaysia, being the present prime minister.

Aiman also agreed that he did not dust the fake guns for fingerprints, as he found it unnecessary because the items were found in Yusoff’s car.

During re-examination by the prosecution after the witness’ favourable exchange with the defence, Aiman had difficulty explaining to the prosecution on why he had agreed with the defence, leading DPP Sabri to wonder whether the police officer had had enough sleep the previous night.

Yusoff is facing trial where he is charged with trafficking 300.1 grammes of cannabis and the possession of imitation pistols at a roadside near a condominium in Bukit Kiara, here, at 9.25am on Sept 6, 2024.

The drug charge under Section 39B (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 is punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same Act, which carries a life sentence and also whipping of not less than 12 lashes, if convicted.

For the charge of fake pistol possession, he faces a maximum imprisonment term of a year or a maximum fine of up to RM5,000, or both, if found guilty under Section 36 (1) of the Arms Act 1960.

Yusoff’s defence contends that the items were planted as he has an ongoing civil suit against Anwar.

Earlier in the morning, the trial was also attended by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, together with Indera Mahkota Member of Parliament Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah and Anwar’s former political secretary Datuk Ezam Md Nor, in the public gallery.

The hearing before Jamil continues on April 28.

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