Hamzah: Rise up, make Yusoff case 'masterminds' pay

Summary

• Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin is convinced that there was a conspiracy against Yusoff Rawther.

• He urges Malaysians not to allow the “dark history of power abuse” to repeat.

“Imagine if this happened to our own child or family member?”

That is the question opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin is posing to Malaysians as he urges national introspection over the case of Yusoff Rawther, who was acquitted of drug trafficking and possession of a fake gun.

The Bersatu deputy president called on Malaysians to rise up and demand justice, stressing that those responsible for jailing Yusoff must be held to account.

Hamzah believes a conspiracy was at play against the former aide to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, leading to Yusoff’s detention without bail for over nine months.

“Yusoff was placed in the death row block, even though he is a young man with a future ahead of him.

“What would have happened if the verdict under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 36(1) of the Arms Act 1960 had not been in Yusoff’s favour? An innocent person would have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

“Therefore, I urge the people to rise together to ensure that the masterminds behind this conspiracy and injustice are held accountable, because we do not want a repeat of the dark history of power abuse,” he added in a Facebook post.

Yusoff’s release comes amid renewed attention on his civil suit against Anwar, whom he accused of sexual assault.

His lawyers have not ruled out initiating legal action against the government and authorities over his arrest.

‘It could happen to anyone’

PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari assured that Yusoff’s case will be investigated “to its roots” when the current government “eventually” falls.

“When that time comes, don’t be surprised if some people end up behind bars for abuse of power.

“The public must not take this development lightly - if it could happen to Yusoff, is it impossible for it to happen to others? The answer is no. It can happen to anyone - all it takes is an order from those at the top,” he added in a Facebook post today.

Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi also said that if the “entrapment” argument brought by Yusoff’s lawyers holds any weight, the alleged “rushed prosecution” against Yusoff could have tarnished the justice system.

“Someone must be held accountable,” Puad noted.

No answerable case

Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Jamil Hussin had ruled that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case on both charges against Yusoff.

Earlier this week, the Court of Appeal issued an ad interim stay on all proceedings involving Yusoff’s civil suit brought against Anwar.

This is after a three-judge panel allowed the prime minister’s application to put the civil suit on hold pending the disposal of the prime minister's bid to get a full stay.

The hearing on the full stay application has been set for July 21.

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