Trial ends with a 'sorry' from Choy

KUALA LUMPUR: The businessman who was accused of enticing Daphne Iking while she was still married was discharged and acquitted yesterday after he made a public apology.
Darren Choy Khin Ming, 45, also publicly denied that he was the biological father of Iking's 3-year-old daughter.

Iking's former husband, Ryan Chong Yiing Yih, 32, had initiated a private prosecution against Choy for allegedly enticing Iking when she was still married to him.

Choy allegedly committed the offence at a condominium in Taman Tun Dr Ismail here between July 2007 and September 2008.

Iking and Chong were married in Bali, Indonesia, on Jan 27, 2007, but divorced in 2009.

Choy's statement was read out at the magistrate's court by counsel Datuk Jagjit Singh yesterday.



"I, Darren Choy, do duly hereby acknowledge that my relationship with Iking has caused embarrassment and humiliation to Chong, his parents, siblings and relatives.

"I do further acknowledge that my relationship with Iking has resulted in a private prosecution by Chong against me, being the subject matter of the current proceedings in court," read Jagjit.

Choy said he regretted if the issues raised during the proceedings might have tarnished Chong and his family's reputation, character and image.

He also retracted several allegations against Chong, including that the former husband had promised Iking money when she agreed to marry him.

"I do hereby tender my sincere and unreserved apology to Chong, his parents and siblings," he said in the statement.

Following that, Chong's counsel Wong Kien Keong told magistrate Engku Ahmad Rashdi Engku Abdillah that his client would not proceed with the prosecution against Choy.



Engku Ahmad Rashdi then discharged and acquitted Choy.

After the proceedings, Choy approached Chong and they were seen shaking hands.

Later, Chong's co-counsel Chris Lim said an apology by Choy was among the terms agreed upon by the parties for the out-of-court settlement.

He said Choy was also expected to make a public apology in several newspapers by this week.

Choy's counsel Akhbardin Abdul Kader said the settlement did not involve any monetary awards and that it was a win-win situation for both.

"It's amicable, no animosity," he said.