Veronica Wong, an ex-lawyer and daughter of MCA veteran leader Wong Mook Leong, said a court interpreter informed her that the trial of Yeo Kwi Seng had been brought forward after his lawyer wrote to the court.

“Neither the deputy public prosecutor nor the investigating officer informed me of this,” she told FMT.

Previously, the court had fixed today and tomorrow for Wong, 53, to give evidence.

Lawyer Goh Han Koong, who is holding a watching brief, said court records revealed that magistrate Noorelynna Hanim Abdul Halim had on June 28 fined Yeo RM6,000 or six months imprisonment in lieu of payment of the fine.

A court officer also confirmed with FMT that the fine was paid by Yeo, 69, an ex-Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Association director, after he changed his plea.

Yeo had on May 31, 2022 pleaded not guilty to insulting Wong’s modesty by sending her lewd WhatsApp videos between May 23 and June 16, 2021.

Under Section 509 of the Penal Code, any person who insults the modesty of any woman by word, through sound, gesture, or exhibits any object intentionally, could, upon conviction, face up to five years in prison.