THE incident occurred on September 6, 2024, in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, when officers were forced to intervene after the accused struggled to open the door of his car during a police operation.
Insp. Wan Muhammad Wan Ali, 37, an officer with the Special Investigations Unit (D9) at the Kuala Lumpur Police Headquarters, testified as the first prosecution witness.
He explained that the police had confronted Muhammed Yusoff Rawther as he approached his dark blue Nissan Teana, requesting that he open the car. “Despite multiple attempts to unlock the vehicle using a remote control, Yusoff was unable to gain access.
“During the raid at 9:25 am, I instructed the suspect to open the car door, but he was unable to do so using the remote control,” said Wan Muhammad.
“He pressed the button repeatedly but failed. I then asked another officer to try opening the other doors, but none of them opened. Eventually, I instructed the suspect to use the key manually, and after several attempts to open the driver’s door, he finally managed to open the passenger side.”
Once inside, the accused was able to unlock the driver’s side door from within the vehicle, allowing officers to carry out further investigations. The search led to the discovery of a black bag under the front passenger seat containing two imitation pistols, as well as compressed cannabis found beneath the rear seat.
Wan Muhammad also shared additional details of the investigation, stating that the cannabis weighed approximately 305 grams and was found near a surau (prayer hall) at the police headquarters, reinforcing the serious nature of the drug trafficking charges.
The accused’s lawyer, Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, questioned the officer's account, suggesting that the remote control had not been functioning properly. Wan Muhammad agreed, confirming that the remote control had failed to open the car doors, even after several attempts.
“You are correct. The remote was not working when the suspect reached the car,” said Wan Muhammad. “It was only after using the manual key that the passenger door opened.”
Further testimony was provided by Corporal Amirul Azwa Zahari, 38, another officer involved in the raid, who agreed with the defence lawyer's assertion that Muhammed Yusoff appeared calm and composed during the arrest, with no attempts to flee or resist.
“The suspect did not try to escape, and there was no struggle or abusive language during the arrest,” Amirul confirmed.
Before the trial resumed, Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin, accompanied by court staff, visited the basement level of the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex to inspect the vehicle. Muhammed Yusoff, in handcuffs, was escorted by police for a demonstration of how the weapons and drugs were discovered.
Muhammed Yusoff is facing serious charges under Malaysia's Dangerous Drugs Act, accused of trafficking 305 grams of cannabis in his vehicle.
He is also charged with possessing two imitation firearms under the Firearms Act 1960. The drug trafficking charge carries a potential life sentence and a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane, while the possession of imitation firearms charge could result in up to one year in prison or a fine of up to RM5,000, or both.
The trial is set to continue tomorrow, with further proceedings scheduled to take place in the coming days. - April 9, 2025
