KUALA LUMPUR: Muhammed Yusoff Rawther claimed that "certain people" had allegedly planted drugs and pistols in the car he was travelling in when he was arrested last Friday, said his lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali.
Rafique said Yusoff, 31, had contacted a sibling that night to inform that he had been arrested by the police.
"Yusoff told his younger brother that 'They have planted drugs and guns in my car. Please get Rafique to help'.
"Yusoff made a police report on the matter and named certain persons in it. We hope the police will be professional and investigate transparently.
"Yusoff said he has never seen the drugs and pistols in his lifetime and it was planted in the car, as per his police report," said Rafique at the court complex today.
Rafique said he would file a bail application at the High Court for Yusoff, although a drug trafficking charge does not provide for it.
"We will do so on grounds of exceptional circumstances as Yusoff has an ongoing court case and he needs to be protected.
"He is not in a condition to be in the lock-up or remand while waiting for this case, which may take a long time. We believe he is a victim of persecution," said Rafique.
Earlier, Yusoff was charged at the magistrate's court for allegedly trafficking 305 grammes of cannabis at the car park in front of the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters surau on Sept 6.
No plea was taken from Yusoff as a drug trafficking offence is under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
Rafique said Yusoff, who is self-employed, would be sent to the Sungai Buloh prison.
On the alleged pistol possession, Rafique said he was told it was still under police probe.
Yusoff's charge under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act punishable under Section 39(B(2) carries a lifetime imprisonment and whipping not less than 12 strokes.
He nodded and said he understood the charge before magistrate M.S Arunjothy.
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 Chemistry Department to be analysed.
The court set Nov 12 for mention.