Decision on Tronoh Assemblyman's rape case on Dec 7

IPOH: The decision on whether Tronoh assemblyman, Paul Yong Choo Kiong, would be acquitted or ordered to enter his defence on the charge of raping an Indonesian maid would be known on Dec 7.

High Court Judge Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamed set the date after hearing arguments from the prosecution and defence at the end of the prosecution's case.

"I need time to review the documents, notes, evidence and written arguments of all parties over several weeks before making a decision," he said.

The prosecution team was led by Perak prosecution director Azlina Rasdi while the defence comprised Datuk Rajpal Singh, Salim Bashir and Phang Yong Nur Sarah.

Earlier, Rajpal argued that there were many questions which the victim was unable to answer in detail including why the rape was not related to the closest persons such as the mother or wife of the accused.

Rajpal also raised the effect of the unknown mixed profile of deoxyribonucleic acid in several exhibits which were not from the accused apart from the note, "wait and see" in the diary of the victim on July 6 2019 which was one day before the incident occurred.

The lawyer said the story of the woman being raped by her employer could be made up as based on the statement of the employment agency, which is a normal allegation if the maid wanted to return to her home country or did not wish to work as a maid apart from political conspiracy.

Meanwhile, Azlina argued that the victim had earlier said that she did not relate the incident to the wife and family of the accused as she had been threatened before.

Azlina said the victim had also contacted the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia three times at 11 am the next day to report the rape and the fact was confirmed through a telephone call.

Yong, 51, pleaded not guilty on the charge of raping the maid in his house at Meru Desa Park here between 8.15 pm to 9.15 pm on July 7, 2019.

The case was earlier heard in the Sessions Court on Dec 15, 2020 before the Federal Court allowed the defence's application to transfer the case to the High Court for trial.

Yong was charged in the Sessions Court on Aug 23 2019 when he was holding the post of the Perak Housing, Local Government, Public Transport, Non-Islamic Affairs and New Village Committee chairman.

-- BERNAMA