Paul Yong arrives at High Court for rape case decision

IPOH: A small group of people have turned up at the High Court here in support of Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong, who is expected to face the decision in his rape trial on Wednesday (July 27).

About 15 of them have gathered within the compound of the court complex, with some arriving as early as 8.30am.

As Yong arrived at about 9.15am, some members of the group went to greet him and gave him fist bumps, with some exclaiming "Hidup Paul Yong" (Long live Paul Yong).

He was accompanied by Buntong assemblyman A. Sivasubramaniam.

Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) information chief Zakaria Abdul Hamid was also present to show his support.

Yong had in August 2019 claimed trial at the Ipoh Sessions Court to a charge of raping his then-23-year-old domestic helper.

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

In 2020, the Federal Court had allowed Yong’s appeal to transfer the case from the Sessions Court to the High Court and Yong was ordered to enter his defence on Dec 7 last year.

Yong, a former state executive council member during Pakatan Harapan's time as the state government, had quit DAP after Perikatan Nasional formed the Perak government in March 2020.

He then joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia in December 2020, before quitting and joining PBM early this year.