MP Gobalakrishnan fined RM5,000 for obstructing public servant

(Bernama) – The magistrate’s court today found Padang Serai MP N. Gobalakrishnan guilty of having used criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty in 2009 and fined him RM5,000 fine or six months’ jail.

Magistrate Mohd Azhar Hamzah said the sentence should serve as a lesson to all. 

Gobalakrishnan was found guilty of having used criminal force to deter M. Karunamuthi of discharging his duty in front of the National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN) here at 11am on August 17, 2009. He disobeyed a police directive and used a loud hailer to utter provocative words at the police.  

The charge, under section 353 of the Penal Code, provides for a maximum jail term of two years or a fine, or both. 

The magistrate said Gobalakrishnan had a similar conviction previously and was fined RM1,000 by the George Town magistrate’s court in 2010. 

Gobalakrishnan told reporters outside the court that he would appeal against the conviction.

The independent MP, who resigned from PKR early last year, also said that he would continue to serve his constituents in Padang Serai through Pekemas, a non-governmental organisation.