Interpol tracking Yusoff Rawther in UK

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Interpol in Manchester is searching for Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, who is currently believed to be in the UK seeking asylum, so he can be served with a notice of appeal in his drug trafficking and imitation firearms case. The Malaysian Court of Appeal is addressing concerns about Yusoff’s virtual participation in hearings, emphasizing the need for his physical presence to ensure enforceability of any decisions, with the next case management set for November 4.

PUTRAJAYA — Interpol in Manchester is currently attempting to locate Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, who is reportedly in the United Kingdom seeking asylum, a deputy public prosecutor informed Malaysia’s Court of Appeal on Wednesday.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Asnawi Abu Hanipah said the prosecution sent a formal request to the National Central Bureau (NCB) of Interpol in Manchester on July 22 to ascertain Yusoff’s whereabouts and to serve him with a notice of appeal. Despite the request being made two months ago, there has been no confirmation of Yusoff’s location or any successful effort to notify him of the appeal proceedings.

The prosecution is appealing the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s June 12, 2025, acquittal of Yusoff, 33, on charges related to the distribution of cannabis and possession of imitation firearms. The High Court’s decision had spared Yusoff from trial, and he subsequently left Malaysia to seek asylum in the UK.

Yusoff faces charges stemming from an incident on September 6, 2024, when police found 305 grams of cannabis in his vehicle at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters surau, leading to a charge of drug trafficking under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. Conviction under this section carries a potential life sentence and mandatory cane whipping. He also faced a separate charge under Section 36(1) of the Arms Act 1960 for possessing two imitation firearms discovered on Jalan Bukit Kiara.

During the appeal hearing, DPP Mohd Asnawi noted that Section 314 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which addresses the non-appearance of a respondent in criminal appeals, does not apply in this case. This is because Yusoff’s lawyer had informed the court that his client was willing to participate in the appeal hearings via online video conferencing, specifically through Zoom.

However, Justice Azman Abdullah, who chairs the three-judge panel, expressed reservations regarding the use of remote attendance in criminal proceedings, emphasizing the importance of the respondent’s physical presence in court. He cautioned that allowing virtual participation could set a precedent complicating future cases, particularly with respect to enforcement actions such as arrests.

“The court does not want a situation where, once a decision has been reached and involves arrest, the arrest could not be executed,” Justice Azman said.

Yusoff’s legal representative, Muhammed Rafique Rashid Ali, reiterated that his client insists on proceeding with the appeal without appearing physically before the court, as outlined in a letter dated June 2, 2026.

The panel, which also includes Justices Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz and K. Muniandy, scheduled the next case management for November 4.

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