PUTRAJAYA (June 13): The public should refrain themselves from making speculative and defamatory statements with regard to Thursday’s (June 12) verdict on Muhammad Yusoff Rawther, especially if they are made outside the scope of the High Court’s decision.
In a statement on Friday, the Attorney General’s (AG) Chambers said it notes and respects the High Court’s decision to acquit Yusoff of both charges, of drug trafficking and fake gun possession.
“The prosecution was done to ensure justice, based on the evidence and the law. This case has attracted a lot of public attention. Throughout the proceedings, the AG’s Chambers had acted within the independent prosecution and the law process.
“The prosecution was done based on the scrutiny of the evidence, and was not influenced by any party. Hence, the public should refrain from making speculative or defamatory statements over the verdict, especially if it is outside of the scope of the grounds of the court’s decision. The administration of justice must not be done by trial by media, public odium, position or perception,” it said.
The AG’s Chambers remains committed to upholding the law, and would commit its responsibility according to the constitution with integrity, and equality, and respect the rule of law, the statement said.
On Thursday, High Court judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin acquitted Yusoff without ordering him to enter his defence, as the court ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case.
Jamil ruled that Yusoff was not in the car registered and belonging to him when the police raid was conducted, and the items were found following a tip-off earlier that day at 5am.
Yusoff, at that time, was outside the car. There was also a gap of approximately nine hours between when Yusoff left the car outside the condo and when the police approached the vehicle when they saw the accused go towards it, Jamil noted.
“Furthermore, Yusoff had made a complaint and lodged a police report several days after the arrest, that he could be a victim of being entrapped (perangkap) by (Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“This complaint was not investigated by the investigating officers, despite the claims made against (Anwar), and the accused was still in remand. There are several gaps in the prosecution’s case, including the issue of custody and control (of those items). This court finds it to be unsafe to call the accused to enter his defence, even if (the accused) chose to remain silent (in his defence),” the judge said in his decision.
Meanwhile, the solicitors for Yusoff from Messrs Law Practice of Rafique had also on Friday written to Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain @ Abd Rashid, to give the police seven days to update the law firm regarding the Sept 12, 2024, police report their client had made while under remand, against Anwar and his former aide Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, alleging possible entrapment by them.
“We write to obtain an official response from Tan Sri [Razarudin] and the police, whether Anwar and Farhash, who were named in the report, had been called for questioning. We also want to inquire as to the steps taken by the police in this matter. We await the reply from the police, beginning seven days from today, and our client reserves the right to take further legal action if necessary,” the firm said.