Padang Serai parliamentarian N Gobalakrishnan questioned the timing of a police report lodged against him over allegedly having taken a Proton Wira eight years ago without paying the full amount.

NONE Gobalakrishnan ( right ) wonders why the report was made only now, in the midst of him vying for one of the four  vice-president spots in the upcoming PKR elections.

T Murly, a lorry driver  from Bahau, had lodged the report alleging Gobalakrishnan had reneged on his promise eight years ago to pay for a Proton Wira car that was owned by Murly’s sister. He claimed that Gobalakrishnan paid a RM500 deposit and promised to pay the remaining RM9,500 later .

Murly alleged that Gobalakrishnan had taken the car without paying the balance, although the latter did settle the summonses that were under the MP's name.

Gobalakrishnan when contacted seemed puzzled by the police report but said that he had indeed paid a deposit with the promise that Murly will provide proper documentation for the car before full settlement.

“The car belonged to his sister and not him. He failed to provide any documents and I tried to demand my money back,” said Gobalakrishnan.

“But Murly did not pay back the deposit I paid. Anyway, the car had been repossessed by the financial institution and it is not in my keeping,” he said.

“Whatever it is, I will assist the police in their investigations should they meet me. At the same time, I will consult my lawyers on taking action against Murly for lodging the report after eight years,” said the Padang Serai MP.

He added that the report was clearly aimed at tarnishing his image in the run-up to the PKR elections, and he will act accordingly.

Differing accounts

Murly when contacted denied that the timing of the report was directed at derailing Gobalakrishnan's vice-presidency race.

He reiterated that Gobalakrishnan had failed to pay the bulk of the sum owing on the car.

"On top of that, after Gobalakrishnan took the car there are 43 unpaid summonses under my sister's name,” said Murly.

“Gobalakrishnan paid summonses on his name but not the remainder. He also incurred RM1,500 in unpaid toll," Murly said, adding he was interrogated for three hours by the police Commercial Crime Division.