Judge Sentences Paul Yong Guilty Of Rape Indonesian ART

JAKARTA - A judge from the Malaysian High Court found Tronoh Perak State Assembly member Paul Yong Chio Kiong guilty of raping an Indonesian domestic helper (ART) in 2019.

Judge Abdul Wahab Mohamed who read out the verdict in Kuala Lumpur, Bernama reported, found Yong, 52, guilty after the defense failed to raise reasonable doubts at the end of the plea.

The panel of judges sentenced Yong to 13 years in prison and two lashes.

The judge's assessment found the Tronoh panel member guilty of the crime after considering all the evidence presented.

"As an employer, you have to protect him, especially when he is from another country, and not act in your favor," he said as quoted by ANTARA from the Star, Wednesday, July 27.

He said the court considered the public interest of the case, and a lesson not only for the accused, but also for those who intend to commit similar crimes.

Therefore, deterrent punishment is needed as a warning with increasing rape cases, he said.

Yong's top adviser Datuk Rajpal Singh told the court they would appeal.

Yong is accused of raping a 23-year-old Indonesian household member in the upstairs room of his home in Taman Meru Desa between 8:15 pm and 9:15 pm on July 7, 2019.

He was charged under Article 376(1) of the Criminal Code which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and can be flogged, if found guilty.

The High Court previously ordered Yong to defend himself after finding that prosecutors had succeeded in proving a prima facie case against him.