IPOH – Two protected witnesses, including the victim, in the rape case involving Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong Choo Kiong, testified on camera during a high court hearing here today.
The proceedings involving the two witnesses, who are protected under the Witness Protection Act, began with the victim testifying at 2.15pm.
Earlier, investigating officer Inspector V. Simon, who was called to continue with his testimony today, told the court that he conducted a “polilight” inspection on eight suspected semen stains found on a mattress cover at the scene and sent them to the Chemistry Department for analysis.
“The use of polilight is to differentiate biological fluid between semen, urine, blood and saliva based on the colour detected on the mattress cover,” he said during cross-examination by lawyer Datuk Rajpal Singh.
Simon, of the Perak police contingent headquarters’ Forensic Division and the 14th prosecution witness, said he also sent two “swab sticks” from the scene to the Chemistry Department for analysis.
During re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Liyana Zawani Mohd Radzi, Simon said he did not do a polilight inspection on a mop that was taken from the scene as it had been cleaned.
When questioned by Rajpal further, Simon said he agreed with the lawyer that the forensic team went to the scene 38 hours after the alleged rape about 12.10pm on July 9, 2019. The police report was lodged by the victim 22 hours after the alleged incident.
He also agreed with Rajpal that the forensic investigation was undertaken based on information given by the complainant, who led the team to a room on the first floor of Yong’s house.
Yesterday, Simon told the court that eight suspected semen stains were found on the mattress cover at Yong’s house, as well as four strands of hair.
He said among the items taken from the scene were a mop, a man’s grey underwear, clothing, a pair of blue shorts, pink underwear and a blue bra.
Yong, 51, had pleaded not guilty to the 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 December 15 last year, 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 August 23, 2019, when he was state housing, local government, public transport, non-Muslim affairs and new villages committee chairman. – Bernama, July 13, 2021
