IPOH: The decision on the rape case involving Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) treasurer-general, Paul Yong Choo Kiong, has been postponed to next month.
Yong's lead counsel Datuk Rajpal Singh said the application for an adjournment was made to the High Court after Yong's mother passed away on Saturday.
"We had submitted a letter to the High Court seeking for an adjournment and the court fixed July 27 for decision," he said.
Rajpal said Yong's mother, 83, died from acute cardiac failure in Sungai Buloh, Selangor.
"Even though the funeral was today, Yong and his family members need to observe the mourning period and they need to be involved in various ceremonies for the entire week," he said.
On Dec 6 last year, the High Court ordered Yong to enter his defence to a charge of raping his Indonesian maid after the judge found that the prosecution had made out a prima facie case against Yong.
Yong, 51, pleaded not guilty on Aug 23, 2019, to a charge of raping his 25-year-old Indonesian domestic helper at his house in Meru Desa Park on July 7, 2019, between 8.15pm and 9.15pm.
The Tronoh assemblyman was then the state housing, local government, public transport, non-Islamic affairs and new villages committee chairman.
He was tried under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years, and possibly whipping, if convicted.
