Tronoh ex-rep Paul Yong loses final appeal, must start prison sentence for raping maid

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 1 — The Federal Court has upheld the conviction and eight-year prison sentence of former Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong Choo Kiong for raping his Indonesian domestic worker six years ago.

A three-judge panel led by Chief Justice Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh dismissed the 55-year-old politician’s final appeal, ordering him to begin his sentence immediately. The sentence also includes two strokes of the cane.

According to a Sinar Harian report, Yong appeared dejected in the dock after the ruling. His wife and children, visibly emotional, held his hand before he was taken away by prison authorities.

He was first charged in the Ipoh Sessions Court on Aug 23, 2019, with raping his 23-year-old domestic worker in a room at his home in Tronoh between 8.15pm and 9.15pm on July 7, 2019.

After the case was transferred to the High Court, a trial began on April 5, 2021, featuring testimony from 23 prosecution witnesses.

On July 27, 2022, the High Court found Yong guilty and sentenced him to 13 years in jail and two strokes of the cane. 

The Court of Appeal later upheld the conviction on March 1, 2024, but reduced the prison term to eight years.

Today's Federal Court decision marks the end of the high-profile legal battle. 

Yong was represented by lawyers Datuk Rajpal Singh, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, and Salim Bashir, while the prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutors Mohd Amril Johari and Mohd Fuad Abd Aziz.