Tian Chua says March polls date will rule him out

Batu MP Tian Chua said today that his eligibility to stand in the upcoming 14th general election would depend on the outcome of his appeal against a conviction and RM3,000 fine for "insulting the modesty" of a police officer.

"If my appeal (today) is denied, then we will proceed to the Court of Appeal. But it all depends on the date of the election.

"If the election is held in March, then I will not stand. If the election is much later, then we will see the outcome of my case at the Court of Appeal stage," the PKR vice-president told reporters when met at the Shah Alam High Court here.

Judicial Commissioner Abdul Karim Abdul Rahman earlier set March 2 to deliver his decision on Tian Chua's appeal against a conviction and fine under Section 509 of the Penal Code for insulting the modesty of a police officer.

Petaling Jaya Sessions Court judge Yasmin Abdul Razak had in March last year found Tian Chua guilty of uttering the words at a police officer in Petaling Jaya in April 2014.

He was said to have uttered the words "bastard" and "stupid police".

Tian Chua, whose real name is Chua Tian Chang, 54, had apparently said the words to the police officer when the latter tried to seize his handphone outside the Armada Hotel in Petaling Jaya.

Article 48 of the Federal Constitution states that an MP is disqualified if he or she is convicted of an offence by a court of law and sentenced prison term of not less than one year or fined not less than RM2,000 -Mkini