Kuala Lumpur: The Federal Court has ruled that the trial of former Perak State Executive Council (Exco) member Paul Yong Choo Kiong over the rape of his maid was heard in the High Court.
A three-judge panel headed by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat decided this unanimously after allowing the final appeal of the Tronoh State Assemblyman (ADUN).
The panel set December 21 for mention in the Ipoh High Court while the hearing date in the Sessions Court which had been set previously, was extended.
Choo Kiong as the appellant was represented by lawyers Datuk Rajpal Singh and Salim Bashir while the prosecution was represented by Deputy Public Prosecutor K. Mangai.
A three-judge panel led by Datuk Yaacob Md. Sam then confirmed the decision of the High Court on November 26 last year which rejected Choo Kiong’s application to transfer his case according to Section 417, Criminal Procedure Code.
Earlier, the former Perak Housing, Local Government and Public Transport Exco pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court in Ipoh to the charge of raping his 23-year-old Indonesian maid.
He was accused of committing the act at his residence in Meru Desa Park between 8.15 and 9.15pm on July 7 last year.