Perak exco's rape case trial postponed again today

The trial of a rape case involving Perak state executive council member (exco) Paul Yong Choo Kiong was postponed again pending today’s decision on an appeal by the defence to transfer the case from the Sessions Court to the High Court at the Appeals Court in Putrajaya today

Sessions Court judge Norashima Khalid, in allowing the case to be postponed today, said it (the hearing) would proceed tomorrow and subsequent dates, as had been fixed earlier.

“The hearing for tomorrow and so forth stays unless there is a decision or further instruction by the Court of Appeal,” she added.

Earlier, lawyer Farhan Sapian, representing Yong, informed the court that the appeal by the defence to transfer the case from the Sessions Court to the High Court had been fixed before the Appeals Court in Putrajaya today.

However, deputy public prosecutor Azhar Mokhtar objected to the postponement unless Yong’s appeal was accepted.

On Dec 5 last year, Norashima set Feb 10 to 14, 2020 to hear the case.

On Aug 23 last year, Yong, who is also Tronoh assemblyperson, pleaded not guilty to raping a 23-year-old Indonesian maid at his residence in Meru Desa Park, between 8.15pm and 9.15pm on July 7, 2019.

- Bernama