MP Gopalakrishnan Fined RM1,000

source: Bernama News

The Malay Mail Teoh El Sen Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 16:17:00 Gobalakrishnan (centre) holding up the hands of MIC Central Working Committee member K.P. Samy (left) and Puchong PKR chairman S. Murali after being sentenced at the Shah Alam Sessions court today. Pic: Samsul Said SHAH ALAM: The controversy over the Hindu Rights Action Force(Hindraf) rally that happened at Batu Caves Nov 25 two years ago finally is coming to a closure. Only nine are still fighting for their innocence after two more out of the 69 Hindraf supporters who were charged for participating in an illegal assembly pleaded guilty today. The two were B. Varatharaju, 34, a foreman and Padang Serai MP N. Gobalakrishnan, 49. The other 60 have mostly pleaded guilty over the past couple of years; while several others had their charges withdrawn due to reasons such as being minors or deceased. Sessions Court judge Hasbi Hassan sentenced both to a fine of RM1,000, in default of seven weeks jail for the charge under Section 143 of the Penal Code for unlawful assembly and taking into consideration offences under Section 149/440 of the Penal Code for damaging seven vehicles and two gates at the Subramaniar temple in the rally. Lawyer for the accused, G.K. Geneson, had first applied for a lesser sentence in light of them pleading to guilt, a mitigation factor. "What happened on Nov 25 was an unfortunate incident. The Indian community was voicing their dissatisfaction and this is a manifestation of social ills. However, not for a moment am I saying what was done was not wrong. More than 50 of my clients have pleaded guilty and I beseech the court to give the same sentencing for my two clients today." Previously, sentences were a RM750 fine for those who pleaded guilty before claiming trial and RM850 for those who later pleaded to guilt. Prosecuting are DPP Idham Abd Ghani, Hanim Mohd Rashid, Farah Azlina Latif and Devinderjit Kaur Gill. Gobalakrishnan, who retains his position as the Padang Serai Member of Parliament, was seen smiling and shaking his lawyer's hand when the session ended. "I pleaded guilty after taking into consideration the previous sentences, I thank the judge for accepting my plea, my lawyer and God. "I will now spend more time in my constituency. Especially now at this time that the Indian community is lacking political representation," Gobalakrishnan told The Malay Mail. Article 48(1)(e) of the Federal Constitution provides that a person is disqualified from being an MP if he has been convicted of an offence and sentenced to not less than one year's jail or fined not less than RM2,000 and "has not received a free pardon."