The High Court in Penang reduced to RM1,000 the RM3,000 fine  a magistrate's court imposed on Padang Serai MP N Gobalakrishnan, who was found guilty last year of obstructing a police officer in 2002.

NONE Judge Zamani Abdul Wahab also ordered that Gobalakrishnan, who had paid the RM3,000 fine in full last year, be repaid RM2,000.

Gobalakrishnan had filed an appeal in the High Court in May last year, after the magistrate's court fined him RM3,000 or six months' jail for obstructing chief inspector V Saravanan from carrying his duty at Jalan Utama, George Town, at 12.20pm on Jan 29, 2002.

He was arrested for questioning police action in preventing about 30 supporters of the then Parti Keadilan Nasional from dancing during a Thaipusam celebration.

Met by reporters outside the court, Gobalakrishnan said he would continue to discharge his duties as an elected representative.

- Bernama