IPOH – Two witnesses in the rape trial of former Perak executive council member Paul Yong Choo Kiong, including the victim, will testify in camera under the Witness Protection Act Programme 2009.
Judge Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamed said the decision was made after the initial inquiry found a need for both witnesses to be protected in accordance with Section 20 of the Witness Protection Act and Section 265 (A) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
“The identity of both the witnesses will be protected during the closed-door proceedings and Section 15 of the Judicial Courts Act 1964 will be adopted,” he said during the proceedings held virtually today.
In fact, Wahab said, publication of their names, addresses, and photographs or statements that could reveal their identities in any form is prohibited.
The judge also ordered the trial date to be maintained from July 12 to 16.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Fitri Sadarudin prosecuted while Yong was represented by lawyers Datuk Rajpal Singh, Salim Bashir, and Phang Yong Nur Sarah.
Yong, 51, claimed trial to a charge of raping his Indonesian domestic helper at his house in Meru Desa Park, between 8.15pm and 9.15pm on July 7, 2019.
The Tronoh assemblyman was first charged in the sessions court here on August 23, 2019, when he was the state Housing, Local Government, Public Transport, Non-Islamic Affairs and New Villages Committee chairman.
On December 15 last year, the Federal Court allowed an application by the defence to transfer the case to the high court. – Bernama, June 24, 2021
