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FORMER Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong Choo Kiong has been ordered to begin serving his prison sentence immediately, following the Federal Court’s unanimous decision on Wednesday to dismiss his final appeal against a rape conviction involving his Indonesian domestic worker in 2019.
A three-member panel chaired by Chief Justice Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh upheld the conviction and sentence, ruling that the findings of both the High Court and the Court of Appeal were “safe” and based on credible evidence.
Paul, 55, appeared visibly downcast in the dock as the verdict was delivered. His wife and children, also present in court, were seen holding his hand in silence before he was taken into custody to commence his sentence of eight years’ imprisonment and two strokes of the cane.
“The conviction, as affirmed by the High Court in Ipoh and maintained by the Court of Appeal, is upheld. The appeal is therefore dismissed,” said the Chief Justice in delivering the court’s decision.
Paul was represented by senior counsel Datuk Rajpal Singh, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik and Salim Bashir. The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutors Mohd Amril Johari and Mohd Fuad Abd Aziz.
The charge stemmed from an incident on 7 July 2019, when Paul was accused of raping his then 23-year-old Indonesian maid in a room of his residence in Perak, between 8.15pm and 9.15pm. He was formally charged at the Ipoh Sessions Court on 23 August 2019.
On 15 December 2020, the Federal Court ordered the case transferred to the High Court. Trial proceedings commenced on 5 April 2021, with 23 witnesses, including two protected witnesses, testifying for the prosecution.
Paul was ordered to enter his defence on 7 December the same year. On 27 July 2022, High Court Judge Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamed found him guilty and sentenced him to 13 years in prison and two strokes of the cane.
The Court of Appeal later upheld the conviction in a majority decision on 1 March 2024, but reduced the jail term from 13 years to eight. Dissatisfied, Paul filed a final appeal to the Federal Court on 5 March 2024.
With today’s verdict, all legal avenues have been exhausted, and the former Perak state executive councillor is now required to serve his custodial sentence without delay. - October 1, 2025