Pendakwaan dapat lanjut tempoh serah notis rayuan kepada Yusoff Rawther

Mahkamah Rayuan has granted additional time for the prosecution to locate former assistant investigator Yusoff Rawther and deliver a notice of appeal to him, following his departure from Malaysia in June of the previous year. The appeal hearing, presided over by Hakim Azman Abdullah, Hakim Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz, and K Muniandy, is scheduled for November 4th.

The deputy lead prosecutor, Asnawi Abu Hanipah, informed the court that the police only sent a request to Interpol in Manchester on July 22nd to track Yusoff and convey the notice to him. "We are awaiting a response from Interpol," he stated, requesting a two-month extension to inform the court about efforts to locate Yusoff and deliver the notice.

Yusoff's lawyer, Rafique Rashid Ali, said his minor child did not contest the appeal hearing via video link. Rafique previously informed the court that he was unaware of Yusoff's exact location in the United Kingdom, despite remaining in contact with his minor child through Zoom. Azman noted that the court cannot hear the appeal without Yusoff's presence, as the prosecution must first attempt to deliver the notice, as required by law.

On June 15th, Azman, Muniandy, and Hakim Radzi Abdul Hamid had allowed the prosecution more time to locate Yusoff. Semak with immigration records also found that Yusoff had left Malaysia in June of the previous year. Rafique stated that his minor child is seeking asylum in the UK and will not return to Malaysia. On June 12th, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur had acquitted Yusoff of both charges without his presence.

Hakim Jamil Hussin, who has since retired, ruled that the prosecution failed to prove that Yusoff had knowledge, possession, or control over the cannabis and replica firearm found in his vehicle outside a police station in Kuala Lumpur on September 6, 2024. Yusoff was charged with smuggling 305g of cannabis, believed to be wrapped in a black plastic bag, and possessing two replica firearms outside the Senada condominium at 9:25 am on the same day.

Yusoff's defense argued that the cannabis and replica firearms were intentionally placed to incriminate him as their owner.