GEORGETOWN: Padang Serai MP N Gobalakrishnan was today found guilty of obstructing police in an incident eight years ago and has been fined RM3,000, or in default, a six-month jail term.
Gobalakrishnan, who was charged at the Georgetown magistrate's court in Penang, is currently in the court's lock-up awaiting to pay the fine when the counter reopens at 3pm. He will also be filing an appeal against the sentencing later today.
On Jan 29, 2002, he was arrested along with 27 PKR supporters during a Thaipusam celebration here.
“The supporters were dancing to celebrate the festival when the police began arresting them,” he told FMT today. “I appealed to the police to release them and they threatened me with arrest, too.”
Gobalakrishnan and the 27 supporters were then brought to the Georgetown police station where all, except Gobalakrishnan, were eventually released.
“I lodged a police report that same day but no action was taken,” he said. “There was no news about the case until now, which makes it obvious that it is politically motivated.”
'Another agenda at play'
Golabakrishnan's lawyer, RSN Rayer, said the sentencing took him by surprise as the case was only fixed for submission today.
“The magistrate usually takes at least a week to ponder the submission,” he explained. “This time the magistrate adjourned into her chambers for just 10 minutes before returning with the sentencing. This is unheard of and suggests another agenda at play here.”
Rayer added that it was also unusual for a case to be resurrected after so many years and speculated that it could be an attempt to silence Gobalakrishnan, who has filed numerous suits against the police for assault and battery.
He also clarified that Gobalakrishnan would be able to continue his MP duties while the case is being appealed.
“But if the Court of Appeal confirms the magistrate court's findings and sentence, then he will have to vacate his position,” he said.
Under the federal constitution, anyone who is jailed for a year or more, or fined RM2,000 or more, and who has not received a free pardon, is disqualified from being a member of either house of Parliament.
No comments:
Post a Comment