By Aarthi Shankar
Pakatan Harapan federal government must act fast to resolve the rape allegation implicating DAP assemblyman Paul Yong Choo Kiong to avoid a diplomatic row with Indonesia.
A former diplomat said Jakarta had already raised its concern to Putrajaya over the perceived delay by the relevant authorities to complete their probe on the rape allegation.
It’s learnt that Indonesia government representatives had met up officials at the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta to express the Indonesian strong stand on the issue.
Indonesian government seems to be a bit upset that the investigation was not carried out according to the rule of law so espoused by the PH government.
“Justice must not only be done but seen to be done.
“The accused was not remanded even for a day and the subsequent statements by DAP lawmakers ticking off the police for arresting Paul Yong did not augur well with Jakarta.
“Jakarta may have felt that the authorities were dragging their feet over the case.
“We can’t afford to have a diplomatic row with Indonesia, the most populated Muslim nation in the world and the biggest economy in Southeast Asia,” said a former diplomat, who declined to be named.
“We have everything to lose for.”
On Monday, July 8, 2019, an Indonesian woman, aged 23, lodged a police report claiming she was raped by her employer at his home in Meru, Ipoh.
The maid is currently being placed at the Indonesian Embassy.
Yesterday, Perak Police Chief Commissioner Datuk Razarudin Husain insisted that the investigators were handling the case according to the police standard operation procedure (SOP).
He assured that the police would not be bias against any party regardless of the alleged suspect’s status.
“We can only arrest the suspect if he tries to tamper with the investigation or harm the victim or have the potential to run away.
“If there is no further investigation, there is no need to arrest the suspect,” he said.
Police arrested Paul Yong on Tuesday, July 9, and released him on bail after recording a statement.
Last Friday, July 13, the Perak government executive councillor was examined by doctors as part of the police investigation.
Razarudin confirmed that the police had submitted the rape investigation papers to the DPP’s office.
The investigation papers will be reviewed and checked by the deputy public prosecutor’s office while waiting for the medical report from the doctor as well as forensic experts.
“Both reports should be completed within two to three weeks’ time,” said Razarudin told newsmen at the state police contingent headquarters in Ipoh on Tuesday, July 16, 2019.
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