After being postponed for over a year, the rape trial of former state executive councillor, Paul Yong Choo Kiong began today.
On Aug 23, 2019, Yong who is also Tronoh assemblyman claimed trial to the charge of raping his Indonesian maid at his home in Meru Desa Park between 8.15pm and 9.15pm on July 7, 2019.
The case has been fixed for trial until this Friday at the High Court in Ipoh before Judge, Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamed.
As of 12pm today, two police photographers were called in to testify.
In his opening statement, lead Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Jamil Aripin said the rape indeed took place after the medical expert who examined the victim on July 7, 2019, confirmed a fresh tear to the hymen.
Jamil said statements would also be presented to state that before the rape incident occurred, there were episodes of sexual harassment by the accused against the victim by hugging, groping and molests which took place throughout the month of June 2019.
“Witnesses from the Indonesian Embassy will also be called to testify on the victim calling the embassy after the incident.
“The prosecution team will also present oral evidence and documentation to show that during the incident, there was no one at home, besides the accused and the victim,” he said.
Earlier, Abdul Wahab said he did not want to waste more time as the case had been postponed many times.
“We will carry on with the other witnesses first and will deal with issues pertaining to the main two witnesses when the time comes,” he said.
Earlier Yong’s counsel Datuk Rajpal Singh said the prosecution was still using the Witnesses Protection Act 2009 and Section 265 (A) of the Criminal Procedure Code, for the victim and the second witness, which the defence team is strongly objecting to.
“The prosecution wants to withhold these two witnesses in the sense the defence lawyers, and the accused cannot see them while they are giving evidence.
“So, when the prosecution puts them up, and informs the court the act is being used, we will object at that point, and a need may arise to file a motion to argue the issue,” he said. – NST