Yusoff seeks asylum in UK, will skip court date - counsel

N Faizal Ghazali
Published: Jun 10, 2026 6:33 PM
Updated: 9:14 PM



Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s former research assistant Yusoff Rawther, who is currently in the United Kingdom, will not return to Malaysia due to safety concerns, according to his lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali.

His client, Rafique said, has applied for human rights asylum in the UK.

The lawyer said Yusoff cannot attend the appeal proceedings against the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision to acquit and discharge him from charges of trafficking cannabis and possessing two imitation pistols.

“I wish to inform that on June 1, I received a copy of an email from my client. On June 2, I wrote directly to the Court of Appeal president to inform them of the latest developments in this case, and a copy of the letter was also sent to the attorney-general.

“On June 1, I received notification and confirmation that my client has applied for human rights asylum from the UK government, and his passport is being held by the authorities there.

“He is in London and is seeking human rights asylum because he is truly in fear, concerned about his safety, and worried about being harmed,” he said during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.


Acquitted by High Court

On June 12 last year, Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Jamil Hussin acquitted Yusoff after finding that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against him at the end of the prosecution's case.

Prior to that, he faced charges of having control, custody, and possession of two pistols and drugs under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 36(1) of the Arms Act 1960.

However, the Attorney-General's Chambers filed a notice of appeal against the High Court's decision on June 16 last year, and the hearing for the application is scheduled to take place at the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya on June 15.