KUALA LUMPUR: High Court Judge Justice Ghazali Cha has told Batu MP Tian Chua's lawyer in a meeting here on Monday that he did not want a by-election.
The judge however maintained his decision to fine Tian Chua RM2,000 for biting a policeman three years ago.
Tian Chua's lawyer Ranjit Singh said the judge had told them that he did not want a by-election to result from his ruling.
"Tian Chua's status as MP is as solid as a 'batu' (rock)," he told reporters here on Monday.
The judge met with both the lawyer and the deputy public prosecutors in chambers.
Tian Chua was not part of the meeting.
On Thursday, Ghazali had allowed Tian Chua's appeal against the six months' jail term and RM3,000 fine imposed by the magistrate's court last October and reduced the sentence to a RM2,000 fine, saying it was not in the public interest for a by-election to take place.
Since then, questions had been raised as to whether "not less than RM2,000" includes RM2,000.
DAP chairman Karpal Singh had maintained that tnder Article 48(1)(e) of the Federal Constitution, an MP is disqualified if sentenced to jail for a term of not less than one year or a fine of not less than RM2,000 and has not received a pardon.
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