Paul Yong Choo Kiong

Accusation and political context

In July 2019, allegations emerged that Yong had raped his Indonesian domestic helper.^[14] On 23 August 2019, he was charged in the Ipoh Sessions Court under Section 376 of the Penal Code. The charge alleged the offence took place in a room at his home between 8:15 pm and 9:15 pm on 7 July 2019.^[15]

The case was immediately surrounded by allegations of political infighting. Fellow Perak DAP politician Ngeh Koo Ham publicly claimed he had met a person who was allegedly paid RM100,000 to assist the maid in lodging the police report.^[16] The controversy led to Yong taking a leave of absence from his EXCO duties.^[17] It also caused a rift in the Perak DAP, with assemblymen Leong Cheok Keng (Malim Nawar) and Leow Thye Yih (Pokok Assam) resigning from their state committee posts in protest of chairman Nga Kor Ming's handling of the situation.^[18][19]

In December 2019, Yong reported a break-in at his house, claiming important documents were stolen. Police confirmed the break-in and the theft of two safe-boxes, but noted that other expensive items, such as a large-screen TV and a motorcycle, were left untouched.^[20]

High Court trial

The trial was transferred to the High Court and began on 5 April 2021.^[21] The prosecution's case relied on testimony from the victim, who was kept under the witness protection program, and medical experts. An obstetrician and gynaecologist testified to finding a fresh abrasion on the victim's posterior fourchette, consistent with penetration.^[22] An investigating officer also told the court that eight spots believed to be semen stains were found on a mattress cover and that the victim claimed to have mopped semen stains off the floor.^[23][24]

The defence, however, highlighted that a chemist who gave evidence on 17 August 2021 found no traces of semen on the clothing, mop, or mattress cover sent for analysis.^[25]

On 7 December 2021, the High Court ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case, ordering Yong to enter his defence.^[26] Yong's defence was that he was the victim of a political ploy.^[27] His wife, Too Choon Lai, testified that Yong was with a friend at the time of the alleged incident and that she was only away from the home for 10 minutes, arguing the rape could not have occurred in that timeframe.^[28]

Verdict and appeals

On 27 July 2022, the High Court found Yong guilty of rape. The judge, Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamed, ruled that the victim's testimony was "credible and honest" and that the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt. The judge dismissed the political-ploy defence as unproven.^[29][30] Yong was sentenced to 13 years in jail and two strokes of the cane, but was granted a stay of execution pending appeal.

On 1 March 2024, the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, but reduced his jail term from 13 to eight years. The sentence of two strokes of the cane was maintained.^[31]

In February 2025, during the final appeal process, it was reported that the former maid, who had returned to Indonesia, had retracted her accusation in a written statement. In the statement, she claimed she had fabricated the allegation because she was not permitted to terminate her employment contract and return home.^[32][33]

On 1 October 2025, the Federal Court dismissed Yong's final appeal against his conviction and sentence. He was subsequently sent to Kajang Prison to immediately begin serving his eight-year jail term and receive the two strokes of cane.^[34]