Police deny info on 'gun in car' plot to trap Yusoff Rawther

A police officer in the High Court today denied that the specific details provided by an informant regarding weapons allegedly hidden in a dark blue Nissan Teana were part of a plot to entrap Yusoff Rawther, a former research assistant to a politician.

Chong Choon Khen, 46, from the Special Investigation Division (D9) of the Kuala Lumpur contingent police headquarters, said this when cross-examined by defence lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali.

The case involves charges of drug trafficking and possession of replica arms against Yusoff.

Rafique: I put it to you that the raid was conducted based on specific information from the informant, to trap the accused.

Chong: I disagree.

Rafique: I suggest that the information was indeed specific with the police already knowing the type and colour of the vehicle, its registration number and a pistol in it, even before the raid.

Chong: I disagree.

Questioned by deputy public prosecutor Shahrizat Amadan about the nature of the information received, Chong clarified that the intelligence gathered under Ops Laras was not considered “specific” information, but rather general intelligence.

“If the information doesn’t lead to a successful operation, then it’s simply unsuccessful. There’s no classification of specific or non-specific. It is just information,” he said.

Ops Laras

Earlier, the seventh prosecution witness told the court that he was involved in Ops Laras, which was led by Wan Muhammad Wan Ali from the contingent police’s D9 unit.

“On Sept 6, 2024, my team and I left the D9 office around 7am and arrived at the scene between 7.20 and 7.25am. The surveillance was based on a briefing by Wan Muhammad, who informed us to look out for a dark blue Nissan Teana with the plate number PMH 6391.

“Upon arrival, we located the vehicle parked by the roadside near the Senada Condominium in Bukit Kiara. We observed the car for about two hours when a man approached the car. We saw his hands move as if pressing the ‘alarm’ and trying to open the car door.

“Other members of the team and I then got out of our vehicle and were instructed by Wan Muhammad to monitor the man,” he said.

Chong testified that he was instructed by Wan Muhammad to handcuff the accused after his superior found a pistol inside the vehicle.

When questioned by Rafique on why he proceeded to handcuff the accused despite Yusoff’s claim that the black bag containing the pistol did not belong to him, Chong said he was instructed by his superior to do so.

“I don't care what the accused says,” he added.

The hearing before judge Jamil Hussin continues tomorrow.

Charges

Yusoff is accused of trafficking 305g of cannabis in a vehicle in front of the Kuala Lumpur contingent police headquarters surau at 10.15am on Sept 6, 2024.

He was charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.

He was also charged with possession of two fake firearms near a condominium on Jalan Bukit Kiara at 9.25am on Sept 6, 2024.

The charge, under Section 36(1) of the Arms Act 1960, provides a maximum penalty of one year in prison or a fine not exceeding RM5,000, or both.

- Bernama

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