The police arrested Padang Serai MP N Gobalakrishnan at the Bukit Mertajam Magistrate's Court today.

He was then believed to be taken to another court in Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands to face another trial.

Gobalakrishnan's son Pravin, when contacted, said the police produced a warrant dated Aug 20 but did not state the reason for his arrest.

NONE Gobalakrishan was present at the Bukit Mertajam court this morning for his trial for allegedly obstructing the police during the Permatang Pasir by-election nomination on Aug 17.

He was stopped by the police as he was walking out of the courtroom with his family members and his lawyers.

He was then taken to the nearby Seberang Perai Tengah district police headquarters in Bandar Baru Perda. He was later driven to the Tapah police station.

He is now expected to be produced before a magistrate in Tanah Rata to face charges for a 2004 case.

Pants, belt sought from police

Earlier in the Bukit Mertajam Magistrate's Court, defence counsel JM Martin made a re-application to magistrate Mohamed Azhar Hamzah to order the police to return his client's torn pants and belt that he was wearing on Aug 17.

Martin told Mohamed Azhar that he was making the application under Section 20 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The lawyer argued that the police can seize any articles, other than the wearing apparels.

"The wearing items must be returned to the accused," he told the court.

Magistrate Mohamed Azhar said he would make decision on the application when case was up for a re-mention on Oct 28.

On Aug 18, the magistrate rejected similar application from Gobalakrishnan's eight-member defence team led by Seri Delima assemblyperson RSN Rayer, for the police to surrender to the court the pants and the belt.

Risk of evidence tampering

The defence team had argued that there was a possibility of the police tampering with the material evidence.

However, the prosecution requested the court not to entertain the request and said the items would be displayed as exhibits during the court proceedings.

NONE Gobalakrishnan was charged under Section 353 of the Penal Code for using criminal force to prevent sub-inspector M Karunamuthi from discharging his official duties during nomination for the Permatang Pasir by-election.

The charge carries a fine not exceeding RM2,000 or two years' jail or both, upon conviction. He was alleged to have committed the offence in front of the Youth Skills Development Institute (IKBN), Jalan Berapit here at about 11am on Aug 17.

Gobalakrishnan is out on a RM2,000 bail, posted by his wife R Vasanthi.

Charged with hurting a cop

Speaking to Malaysiakini later this evening, Gobalakrishnan confirmed that the 2004 case related his alleged altercation with a police officer.

Gobalakrishnan said the magistrate threw out the case in 2004 and he was being slapped with the same charges again.

"They are fishing (for a charge)," said Gobalakrishnan, who posted RM1,000 bail today for each of the two offences he has been charged for.

According to the arrest warrant, Gobalakrishnan was to be charged under Sections 323 and 324 of the Penal Code for intentionally causing hurt.

Gobalakrishnan was unrepresented when the charges were read.