MP convicted of biting cop
2009-10-22 13:02
Kuala Lumpur - A prominent opposition lawmaker faces expulsion from Malaysia's parliament after being convicted on 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.
Under Malaysian law, a member of parliament must lose his or her seat if sentenced to more than one year in jail or a fine exceeding 2 000 ringgit.
The policeman had testified that during a scuffle he punched Tian Chua, and that Chua bit him in retaliation.
Chua, who won a stay of the sentence pending an appeal, said the case was designed to sideline him from politics.
"It's clearly a politically motivated charge," he told AFP. "The (prosecutor) himself said in court that they have to show an example by delivering a harsh sentence, to act as a deterrent to street demonstrations.
"The prosecution failed to present any witness or evidence as to the bite, it narrowed down to only two persons involved - myself and the police officer," he added.
"It is recorded on video and by the media that he punched me, so that's very clear, everyone saw that. But nobody saw me bite him."
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 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.