Padang Serai parliamentarian N Gobalakrishnan was today found guilty of obstructing the police in an incident that occured more than eight years ago - in January, 2002.

NONE Charged at the Georgetown Magistrate's Court in Penang,  he was handed down a fine of RM3,000, or in default, a six- month jail term.

With this conviction, he faces losing his seat in Parliament.

Article 48(1)(e) of the Federal Constitution provides that a person is disqualifed from being an MP if he [or she] 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".

When contacted, the PKR leader said he had tried to pay the fine but was told the payment counter was closed for lunch at 12:15pm.

"I may have to spend some time in the lock-up," he told Malaysiakini .

He was later held in the lock-up of the Magistrate's Court.

When contacted at 2.30pm, Gobalakrishnan said he was still in the lock-up.

Elected MP two years ago

Gobalakrishnan, a member of PKR's supreme council, said he would nevertheless appeal  the decision to the higher courts.

He was released from lock-up at 4pm after paying the RM3,000 fine.

"My lawyer has already filed an appeal," he told Malaysiakini when contacted later today.

azlan On Jan 29, 2002, he was arrested after questioning the actions of the police in preventing about 30 devotees from dancing during a Thaipusam celebration in Georgetown.

The police said he had obstructed the police officers concerned from discharging their duties.

Gobalakrishnan was elected MP for Padang Serai in Kedah in 2008 general election. 

He was barred from entering Sarawak on Wednesday where he was to help opposition Pakatan Rakyat in the Sibu by-election campaign.

Known as a firebrand and no stranger to controversy, Gobalakrishnan has a number of court cases pending, mostly for alleged illegal assembly.