Two witnesses in Paul Yong rape trial under protective custody

IPOH: A High Court here has decided that the two main witnesses in the rape case involving former state executive council member Paul Yong will be protected under the Witness Protection Act (WPA).

Justice Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamed said the witnesses would give evidence in open court, but only he would be able to see them.

He said the deputy public prosecutors, lawyers and the rest involved in the case would only be able to hear the voices of the witnesses.

“Both the witnesses would be protected under Section 20 of the Witness Protection Act (WPA), and Section 265 (A) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

“The identity of the two witnesses needs to be protected, and I made the decision after I conducted the inquiry,” he said when delivering the decision via Zoom yesterday.

Justice Abdul Wahab added that the names, addresses and photographs of the witnesses should not be revealed.

“The victim’s name can only be mentioned in the proceeding, and their identities cannot be disclosed in public.

“The court will have their way of conducting the trial concerning the two witnesses,” he said.

It was reported on May 29 that an inquiry would be conducted by the High Court involving the case, when Justice Abdul Wahab said he would be interviewing the victim and another witness personally during the inquiry to determine if they should testify on camera.

DPP Mohd Fitri Sadarudin prosecuted, while Yong was represented by lead counsel Datuk Rajpal Singh and Salim Bashir.

Rajpal asked about the process of identifying the victim in court, if only the judge was allowed to see the witnesses.

In response Justice Abdul Wahab said the court would know what to do when the time comes.

The trial will continue from July 12 to July 16.

On Aug 23, 2019, Yong claimed trial at the Ipoh Sessions Court to raping his then 23-year-old maid.

The offence was allegedly committed in a room on the top floor of his house in Meru Desa Park on July 7 that year, between 8.15pm and 9.15pm.