The Penang High Court today postponed to a date to be fixed later its decision on an appeal by Padang Serai MP N Gobalakrishnan on his conviction and sentence for obstructing a police officer on duty during the Thaipusam festival nine years ago.

NONE Deputy public prosecutor Tan Guat Cheng said it was postponed because High Court judge Zamani Abdul Wahab was on leave to attend to his mother's burial in Terengganu.

Gobalakrishnan had filed the appeal in May last year after he was fined RM3,000 or six months' jail by the George Town Magistrate's Court for the offence.

He was charged with obstructing chief inspector V Saravanan from discharging his duty by questioning the police action in preventing 30 PKR supporters from dancing during a Thaipusam celebration in 2002.

If he loses, he can still turn to the Court of Appeal. But if the Court of Appeal upholds the sentence, he could lose his seat and be disqualified as an MP.

- Bernama