IPOH (Bernama): The High Court here adjourned to August and September to continue the trial involving Tronoh Assemblyman Paul Yong Choo Kiong (pic), who is charged with raping his domestic maid, after hearing the testimony of two protected witnesses in the case.

       The two protected witnesses, including the victim, completed their testimony on Friday (July 16) before judge Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamed.

       The proceeding involving the two witnesses started last Tuesday with the victim testifying first, followed by the other witness yesterday.

       The court set four days - Aug 16, 17 and 18 and Sept 28 - to continue hearing the case with several more witnesses to be called.

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

       State prosecution director Azlina Rasdi, as well as deputy public prosecutors Liyana Zawani Mohd Radzi and Mohd Fitri Sadarudin appeared for the prosecution, while Yong was represented by lawyers Datuk Rajpal Singh, Salim Bashir and Phang Yong Nur Sarah. - Bernama