KUALA LUMPUR: Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, the former research assistant to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, proclaimed his innocence today after being charged at the magistrate's court with trafficking 305g of cannabis last week.
"I am innocent. I am framed by those in power."
Yusoff, 31, was charged with trafficking cannabis at 10.15am in front of the carpark of Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters surau on Sept 6.
The charge under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act punishable under Section 39(B(2) carries a life sentence, and no fewer than 12 stokes of the rotan.
He nodded and said he understood the charge before magistrate M.S. Arunjothy.
However, no plea was taken from Yusoff as drug trafficking cases are under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Sabri Othman asked the court to set a mention date pending the results of the substances which has been sent to the Department of Chemistry to be analysed.
The court set Nov 12 for mention.
Yusoff was represented by lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali.
Rafique will hold a press conference on the matter later today.
Earlier, Yusoff arrived at the court complex under heavy police security today.
He was heard uttering profanities at a certain politician as he was led into the complex lock-up.
It was reported that Yusoff was arrested last Friday after police allegedly found two pistols and 305g of ganja in the car he was travelling in.
Rafique said Yusoff was detained around 9.30am on the same day.
Rafique had said the case, initially investigated under the Arms Act 1960, was being under the Dangerous Drugs Act after the remand application under the former was rejected.
He said Yusoff denied any connection to the pistols and drugs, claiming that the items were planted to frame him by individuals with personal vendettas.
The High Court fixed a seven-day trial from June 16 next year.