High Court judicial commissioner Ab Karim Ab Rahman today reduced the fine to RM2,000, clearing the path for Tian Chua to stand for the next general election.
Article 48 of the Federal Constitution disqualifies a person from standing as an election candidate for five years, should he be convicted and sentenced to more than a year’s jail, or more than RM2,000 fine.
Last year, Tian Chua, who is Batu MP, was found guilty of insulting senior policeman DSP Glenn A Sinappah by using vulgar words.
He allegedly committed the offence at the main entrance of Armada Hotel at 7.45pm on April 14, 2014.
The charge under Section 509 of the Penal Code carries a maximum jail term of five years, or fine, or both, upon conviction.
Tian Chua was also jailed for a month by the Court of Appeal on Sept 29 last year. He then withdrew his appeal against his conviction and jail sentence for refusing to obey a police order to leave a restricted area during the 2012 Bersih 3 rally.
He was also fined RM1,800 and jailed three months by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court under a separate conviction for making seditious statements at a forum in 2013.
His sedition appeal will be heard on June 28.
Tian Chua won the Batu seat in 2008 with a 9,455 majority, defeating Gerakan’s Lim Si Pin.