Court cancels arrest warrant against MP - The Star

Court cancels arrest warrant against MP
By PRISCILLA DIELENBERG

GEORGE TOWN: May 29, 2008

A magistrate's court here has cancelled the warrant of arrest issued on March 17 against Padang Serai MP N. Gobalakrishnan for failing to turn up for his trial for obstructing a police officer.

Magistrate Ainul Bashirah Dona Don Biyajid on Thursday accepted the explanation by Gobalakrishnan's counsel R.S.N. Rayer and allowed his application for the warrant to be cancelled.

Rayer explained to the court that Gobalakrishnan was on sick leave on March 17 and apologised to the court for the absence of his client and his bailor on that date. He also produced Gobalakrishnan's medical certificate from the Kulim Hospital.

Rayer also apologised to the court for Gobalakrishnan's abesence at Thursday's proceeding, as he had to be in Parliament. He produced a copy of the letter from the Secretary of Parliament to all MPs informing them that the Parliament sitting had been extended to Thursday.

DPP Zalina Awang objected to the cancellation of the arrest warrant: "I regret that he is not here. Although we understand that he is required to be at Parliament, he should have turned up at this court."

Rayer replied that Gobalakrishnan did not mean any disrespect, and gave his assurance that he would be present on the next date.

Gobalakrishnan, 48, was charged with voluntarily obstructing then Chief Insp V. Saravanan in Jalan Utama at 12.20am on Jan 29, 2002.

The offence under Section 186 of Penal Code carries a jail term of up to three months or a fine of up to RM1,000, or both upon conviction.

Gobalakrishnan was first charged in court with a similar offence on Jan 30, 2002, but was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal in December 2004.

He was re-charged for the same offence on Nov 30, last year, and is out on RM2,000 bail.

Ainul Bashirah Dona fixed Aug 5 and 6 for trial.