Protected witnesses in Tronoh Assemblyman's rape case testified today

IPOH: Two protected witnesses, including the victim in the rape case involving Tronoh Assemblyman Paul Yong Choo Kiong, testified in camera during the hearing at the High Court here today.

The proceedings involving the two witnesses, who are protected under the Witness Protection Act, began with the victim testifying at about 2.15 pm.

Earlier, investigating officer Insp V. Simon, who was called to continue with his testimony today, told the court that he conducted a 'polilight' inspection on eight suspected semen stains found on a mattress cover at the scene and then sent them to Department of Chemistry for analysis.

"The use of polilight is to differentiate biological fluid between semen, urine, blood and saliva based on the colour that was detected on the mattress cover," he said during cross -examination by lawyer Datuk Rajpal Singh.

Simon, of Perak police contingent headquarters Forensic Division and the 14th prosecution witness, said he also sent two "swab sticks" found at the scene to the Department of Chemistry for analysis.

During re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Liyana Zawani Mohd Radzi, Simon said he did not do a polilight inspection on a mop that was taken from the scene as it had been cleaned.

When questioned by Rajpal further, Simon said he agreed with the lawyer that the forensic team went to the scene 38 hours after the alleged rape, which was at about 12.10 pm on July 9, 2019, and the report lodged by the victim was 22 hours after the alleged incident.

He also agreed with Rajpal that the forensic investigation was made specifically based on information given by the complainant who led the team to a room on the first floor of Yong's house.

Yesterday, Simon told the court that eight suspected semen stains were found on the mattress cover at Paul Yong's house, as well as four strands of hair.

He said among the items taken from the scene were a mop, a man's grey underwear, clothing, a pair of blue shorts, a pink underwear and a pair of blue bra.

Yong, 51, had pleaded not guilty to a charge of raping his Indonesian maid at his residence in Meru Desa Park here between 8.15 pm and 9.15 pm on July 7 2019.

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

The Tronoh assemblyman was first charged in the Session's Court here on Aug 23, 2019 when he was Perak Housing, Local Government, Public Transport, Non-Muslim Affairs and New Villages Committee chairman.

-- BERNAMA