Former Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong seeks Federal Court review of his eight-year rape conviction, claiming breach of natural justice principles.
PUTRAJAYA: Former Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong Choo Kiong has filed a review application with the Federal Court challenging his conviction and eight-year prison sentence for rape.
His counsel Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik confirmed the application was submitted last week under Rule 137 of the Federal Court Rules 1995.
The notice of motion seeks to set aside the Federal Court’s earlier ruling that affirmed his client’s conviction and sentence for raping his domestic helper six years ago.
Yong, 55, began serving his sentence on October 1 after the Federal Court dismissed his final appeal.
In a supporting affidavit, Yong contends the previous Federal Court panel breached natural justice principles.
He claims the panel applied the legal precedent of Sathya Vello v Public Prosecutor without allowing his legal team to be heard on the matter.
Yong further argues the panel departed from established precedent and the prevailing interpretation of Section 182A of the Criminal Procedure Code.
He states that a miscarriage of justice occurred, violating his constitutional rights under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution.
The affidavit also claims his right to a fair trial under Article 5 of the Federal Constitution was infringed.
Yong was initially sentenced by the High Court in July 2022 to 13 years’ imprisonment and two strokes of the cane.
The Court of Appeal reduced his prison term to eight years in March 2024 while upholding the corporal punishment.
The High Court had found him guilty of raping the 23-year-old Indonesian domestic helper at his Ipoh residence on July 7, 2019.
In dismissing Yong’s final appeal, the Federal Court held that the victim was a credible and convincing witness.
The court affirmed the High Court had been correct in accepting her testimony as the basis for conviction. – Bernama
