Sessions Court sets March 19 for Paul Yong's stay application of rape case

IPOH: The Sessions Court here has set March 19 to make a decision on Perak executive council member Paul Yong Choo Kiong's application for a stay of proceedings for his rape trial to allow an appeal to be heard at the Federal Court first.

Sessions Court judge Norashima Khalid set the date after hearing submissions from Yong's lawyer, Farhan Sapian.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Naidatul Athirah Azman said the prosecution did not file an affidavit, or submissions.

"We have no objections on the application filed, and we will leave it for the court to make a decision," she said.

Farhan said Tuesday's (March 3) re-mention was for them to hand in their submissions.

Yong's application to transfer his case from the Sessions Court to the High Court was dismissed by Judicial Commissioner Datuk Mohd Radzi Harun in December last year.

In February this year, the Court of Appeal had also dismissed Yong's appeal to transfer the case to the High Court, and thus an appeal application has been made at the Federal Court.

In August last year, Yong claimed trial to raping his former 23-year-old Indonesian maid at his house.

The act was said to have been committed in a room on the top floor of his house in Meru Desa Park on July 7, between 8.15pm and 9.15pm.