Rape accused maintains innocence

IPOH: Paul Yong Choo Kiong (pic), the state executive councillor accused to have raped his Indonesian maid, has maintained his innocence.

He expressed shock and bafflement of the accusation hurled against him.

In a statement issued to the media through his aide, Yong said it was shocking that his former maid made such baseless allegations against him.

The State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman said he unequivocally and categorically denied the unfoun­ded allegations made against him.

“I reiterate my stand that I have never raped or sexually assaulted her.

“While I maintain my total innocence, I have given my full cooperation to the police and brought witnesses to assist the authorities in their investigations to prove that the allegations made against me is false,” he said in the statement yesterday.

He did not elaborate on who the witnesses were.

Yong, who is Tronoh assemblyman, said he respected the due process of the law.

“I will let the police carry out their investigations as I believe the truth will prevail,” he said.

Perak police chief Comm Datuk Razarudin Husain said the police has recorded statements from Yong and the 23-year-old victim.

He said the police received a report from the woman on Monday stating that her employer, who is also an exco member, had allegedly raped her at his house in Meru.

“The police recorded her statement and sent her to a hospital for a medical check-up,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Based on the preliminary evidence of the investigation, the police has classified the case under Section 376 of the Penal Code for rape, he added.

Comm Razarudin said forensic investigation was also carried out at the scene of the alleged incident and the police had collected evidence for analysis.

He said statements from several witnesses were also recorded, including from the family members of the executive councillor.

“We arrested the suspect on Tuesday. He was released on police bail the same day after his statements were recorded, and a doctor examined him for investigation purposes.

“The woman is now being kept in a safe place until the investigation papers are referred to Bukit Aman and the Deputy Public Prosecutor,” said Comm Razarudin.