Muhammed Yusoff acquitted
Free at last: Muhammed Yusoff leaving the High Court in Kuala Lumpur after the verdict was announced. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Former research assistant Muhammed Yusoff Rawther walked out a free man after the High Court here acquitted him of two charges of drug trafficking and possession of imitation firearms.
Justice Muhammad Jamil Hussin ruled that the prosecution has failed to prove a prima facie case against the 32-year-old.
In his judgment, the judge said the prosecution had failed to prove that the accused had control, custody and possession of two imitation pistols and 305g of cannabis.
He noted that a car, in which the items were found, belonged to Muhammed Yusoff, and the car keys and remote control were in his possession.
'It is undeniable that he was near the car and opened the door when the police conducted their operation. But that does not mean we can conclude that the accused has exclusive control of the car, nor does he have custody and control over the pistols and the drugs,' he said in his decision at the end of the prosecution's case yesterday.
Justice Muhammad Jamil also said the accused's behaviour during the operation was consistent with that of a person with no knowledge of the items found in the car.
After he was arrested, Muhammed Yusoff told the police that he was 'a victim who was framed by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim', the judge said.
'However, the police did not carry out any investigation to verify this claim. The failure to investigate has denied the accused the right to a fair trial.
'Therefore, it is not safe for the court to call the accused to enter his defence.
'I hereby make the order to discharge and acquit the accused without calling for his defence,' the judge added.
On Sept 12, 2024, Muhammed Yusoff was charged with trafficking in 305g of cannabis.
The drug was found in his vehicle near the surau at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters at 10.15am on Sept 6, 2024.
He was charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a sentence of life imprisonment and at least 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.
He was also charged with possessing two imitation firearms by the roadside near a condominium in Jalan Bukit Kiara at 9.25am the same day.
The charge was framed under Section 36(1) of the Arms Act 1960, which provides for a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a fine of up to RM5,000, or both, upon conviction.
Muhammed Yusoff, who wore a striped long-sleeve shirt, was greeted by a large group of people outside of the court complex after his release.
He told reporters that he was grateful for the court's decision and thanked his family, lawyers and others who supported him.
Throughout the trial, Muhammed Yusoff was detained at the Sungai Buloh prison as the offence he was accused of did not allow for bail.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
‘20-minute returns' turn into retiree's RM733k regret
GEORGE TOWN: A retired factory worker recently lost RM733,300 after falling victim to an online investment scam syndicate. Penang police chief Comm Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said the Commercial Crime Investigation Department of the Barat Daya district police headquarters received a report from the 66-year-old victim on June 18. The victim claimed to have received a text in early March from a woman who introduced herself as a representative of a reputable investment company. 'He was promised a return of between 10% and 15% on each investment, within just 20 minutes,' he said in a statement yesterday, Bernama reported. 'The victim was instructed to download an application to register and begin investing.' Comm Hamzah said the victim made 25 transactions into three different bank accounts between March 7 and April 24, but realised he had been cheated when he was asked to make an additional payment to withdraw his supposed investment profits.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
It's regulated: Ministry dismisses call to ban gold-plated products amid TikTok boom
KUALA LUMPUR: There is no need to ban the sale of gold-plated products as the sale of such items is regulated to protect consumers. Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry enforcement director-general Datuk Azman Adam said gold-plated products have been in the market for years, and their increasing popularity did not warrant a ban. Previously, the Malaysia Gold Association (MGA) called for the sale of "gold-wrapped" products to be banned amid their growing popularity on social media platforms like TikTok. Its president, Datuk Louis Ng, said that these items posed a risk to consumers, pawnbrokers, and the gold recycling industry as they could be mistaken for authentic gold. He said a thick layer of gold wrapping could make such items indistinguishable from genuine gold, especially to the untrained eye. Azman said the Trade Descriptions (Articles Made of Precious Metals) Regulations under the Trade Descriptions Act governed the sale of precious metals like gold, silver and platinum. "The aim (of the regulations) is to protect consumers from fraud and ensure transparency in the precious metals market," he told the New Straits Times. Azman said the regulations specified that jewellery coated with gold, silver or platinum must be described with the word "plated" when sold to customers. A company or individual in violation of the law faces a fine of up to RM25,000 or RM10,000, respectively. An individual can also be jailed for up to one year, or both, upon conviction. Action can be taken against traders who fail to comply with this requirement. However, to date, Azman said the ministry had not received any official complaints regarding the sale of gold-plated silver products or gold-like items. Precious metal sales highly regulated Azman said online traders were also subjected to the law, including the requirement to disclose product information under Schedule 3 of the Consumer Protection (Electronic Trade Transactions) Regulations. He added that the sale of precious metals was highly regulated against fraud. "Any person who uses false trade descriptions regarding the purity standards of precious metals may also be prosecuted under Regulation 8, Trade Descriptions (Articles Made of Precious Metals) Regulations. "They can also be charged under Section 5 read with Section 6(f) of the Trade Descriptions Act," he said. Under the Act, if the offender is a corporate body, it may be fined up to RM250,000 upon conviction. And for a second or subsequent offence, the fine may be increased to a maximum of RM500,000. If the offender is not a corporate body, he may be fined up to RM100,000 or face imprisonment for up to three years, or both. He added that businesses selling or supplying precious metals must provide a receipt detailing the item's specifications, as mandated under Regulation 9 at the time of supply. Azman also warned that traders using uncertified gold weighing scales or engaging in fraudulent weight measurements could be prosecuted under the Weights and Measures Act. Under Section 14(6) of the Act, any person who uses or possesses for trade purposes any weight, measure, or weighing or measuring instrument that has not been verified, stamped, certified or approved as required under this section commits an offence. Upon conviction, they may be fined up to RM40,000 or imprisoned for a term not exceeding three years, or both. The weight, measure or weighing or measuring instrument may be forfeited. The compoundable amount for this offence shall not exceed the maximum fine, which is RM40,000. "Among others, complaints related to misleading sales practices may also be investigated under Sections 9 and 10 of the Consumer Protection Act," he said. Under the Act, if the offender is a corporate body, it may be fined up to RM250,000, and for a second or subsequent offence, the fine may be increased to a maximum of RM500,000. If the offender is not a corporate body, he may be fined up to RM100,000 or face imprisonment for up to three years, or both. Meanwhile, Azman said consumers who felt cheated in a sales transaction could file a claim with the Tribunal for Consumer Claims Malaysia. He encouraged consumers to report any concerns by submitting complaints with full and accurate details through WhatsApp: 019-848 8000, 1-800-886-800 and Ez ADU KPDN Mobile App.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Police probe AI-generated video falsely linking ex-IGP to financial aid
SHAH ALAM: The police are investigating a viral video showing an individual resembling former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah, allegedly receiving financial aid from a person with the title of 'Datuk'. Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the video, which began circulating on the TikTok social media platform on June 20, was fake and had been manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. "The video, which purportedly links the former police chief to the receipt of financial assistance from an individual named Datuk Abdul Ghani, and that the money had been deposited into a bank account, is completely untrue and baseless. "The Subang Jaya police stress that the 13th IGP never issued any statement as depicted in the video," he said in a statement. Hussein said Acryl Sani had lodged a police report denying that the video contained any official statement from him. He also advised the public not to share the video and urged them to verify the authenticity of any content before believing or disseminating it on social media. "Selangor police take seriously the misuse of technology, such as AI, for the purpose of fraud or slander that could damage the reputation of any party. Firm action will be taken against those involved in spreading this fake content," he said. The case is being investigated under Section 419 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. - Bernama
