Umno Youth questions delay in prosecuting Perak exco's alleged rape case

Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki (photo, above) has questioned the apparent delay in prosecuting Perak exco Paul Yong's alleged rape case involving his domestic helper.

Asyraf noted that police on July 23 had said that it had submitted the investigation papers to attorney-general Tommy Thomas but the case has yet to go to court.

"Since the beginning of the case, there is a perception of bias as Yong was not remanded.

"We are puzzled as to why he has yet to be brought to court when the case happened on July 7," he said in a statement today.

Asyraf said a similar case involving Village Community Management Council chairperson Ma'on @ Yunus Abu Samah, who was accused of outraging the modesty of his female neighbour on July 15, was already brought to court for prosecution on July 23.

"If a less severe case like Ma'on's that happened later, which saw a remand of four days compared to Yong who was not remanded, has been prosecuted, why is Yong's case, which is more severe and happened earlier, has yet to be prosecuted?

"This case needs to be expedited has it is also garnering attention from the international community, particularly our neighbouring country Indonesia, the home country of the domestic helper," said Asyraf.

Asyraf said Yong's (photo, above) case should not be delayed further so as to safeguard the integrity of the country's legal system.

Yong is accused of sexually assaulting his Indonesian domestic worker. A police report against Yong was lodged on July 8.

The Tronoh assemblyperson has denied the rape allegation.

“I hereby unequivocally and categorically deny the allegation. I reiterate that I have never raped or sexually assaulted her," he had said. 

Yong presented himself at the Jelapang police station on July 9 to facilitate investigation and was briefly detained by cops. He was subsequently released on police bail.

Yong has continued to clock into office as the Perak exco in charge of housing, local government, public transport, non-Muslims affairs and new villages but Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu said his decision-making role has been limited pending the completion of police investigations.

The case has also attracted attention from the Indonesian embassy.