Malaysian MP convicted of biting policeman
| DATE: 2009-10-24 | PRINT | Share
A Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court sentenced Tian Chua, who is head of strategy for the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance, to six months imprisonment and fined him 3,000 ringgit (880 dollars).
Under Malaysian law, a member of parliament must lose their seat if sentenced to more than one year in jail or a fine exceeding 2,000 ringgit.
Chua, 46, won a stay of the sentence pending an appeal.
He reportedly said the sentence was "designed" to disqualify him as a parliamentarian.
"I still maintain my innocence. I would continue to render my service to the people," he said, according to the news website Malaysiakini.
The opposition made unprecedented gains in national polls a year ago, winning a third of parliamentary seats and putting the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition under intense pressure.
The police officer testified that during a scuffle he punched Tian Chua, and that Chua bit him in retaliation.
"Our contention, amongst other things, is that there is a video recording which did not show any bite," defence lawyer Ranjit Singh told AFP.
The scuffle occurred at a protest outside parliament in December 2007, organised by an electoral watchdog which opposed a move to change rules on the eligibility of Election Commission members.
| DATE: 2009-10-24 | PRINT | Share
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22, 2009 (AFP) - A prominent opposition lawmaker faces eviction from Malaysia's parliament after he was convicted Thursday of biting a policeman at a protest two years ago.
A Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court sentenced Tian Chua, who is head of strategy for the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance, to six months imprisonment and fined him 3,000 ringgit (880 dollars).
Under Malaysian law, a member of parliament must lose their seat if sentenced to more than one year in jail or a fine exceeding 2,000 ringgit.
Chua, 46, won a stay of the sentence pending an appeal.
He reportedly said the sentence was "designed" to disqualify him as a parliamentarian.
"I still maintain my innocence. I would continue to render my service to the people," he said, according to the news website Malaysiakini.
The opposition made unprecedented gains in national polls a year ago, winning a third of parliamentary seats and putting the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition under intense pressure.
The police officer testified that during a scuffle he punched Tian Chua, and that Chua bit him in retaliation.
"Our contention, amongst other things, is that there is a video recording which did not show any bite," defence lawyer Ranjit Singh told AFP.
The scuffle occurred at a protest outside parliament in December 2007, organised by an electoral watchdog which opposed a move to change rules on the eligibility of Election Commission members.
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