IPOH: Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong Choo Kiong has been found guilty in the High Court today of raping his Indonesian maid, three years ago.
Judge Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamed made the decision after ruling that the prosecution had proven its case beyond all reasonable doubt against the accused.
Yong who is also Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) treasurer-general and a former state exco is facing a maximum jail term of 20 years and possible whipping under under Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code for the offence.
On Dec 6 last year, the High Court ordered Yong to enter his defence to a charge of raping his Indonesian maid after the judge found that the prosecution had made out a prima facie case against Yong.
Yong, 51, pleaded not guilty on Aug 23, 2019, to a charge of raping his 25-year-old Indonesian domestic helper at his house in Meru Desa Park on July 7, 2019, between 8.15pm and 9.15pm.
He was then the state housing, local government, public transport, non-Islamic affairs and new villages committee chairman.
The prosecution had called 23 witnesses including two protected witnesses, to testify during the trial which began on April 5; while the defence called three witnesses including the accused.
Yong was represented by counsels, Datuk Rajpal Singh and Salim Bashir while deputy public prosecutors Azlina Rashdi, Liyana Zawani Mohd Radzi and Mohd Fitri Sadarudin appeared for the prosecution.–NST