KUALA LUMPUR – Warisan vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony’s bid to transfer his case to the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court has been rejected by the high court here.
Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin confirmed the matter to Berita Harian.
Shaharuddin said the Kuala Lumpur High Court cannot transfer the case to Sabah as it does not have the authority to do so.
“The trial will commence on April 5 at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
“The court has set April 6 until 23 for the trial,” said Shaharuddin, adding that up to 12 witnesses may be called.
They might include former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, former chief judge Tun Zaki Azmi and former treasurer chief secretary Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah.
Former state infrastructure development minister Anthony, 50, is facing charges for falsifying documents as the managing director of Syarikat Asli Jati Sdn Bhd.
The false documents include a letter from the office of Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s vice-chancellor dated July 14, 2014.
The documents allegedly detailed the collaboration between UMS and Asli Jati Engineering, involving the financing and construction of a Mechanical and Engineering facility in the university, as well as support for his company to carry out additional works via direct negotiations.
Anthony allegedly committed the offence at the office of the Prime Minister’s Private Secretary Office in Putrajaya on July 17, 2014.
Last June, Anthony was also charged in the special corruption court in Kota Kinabalu on five counts of money laundering and criminal breach of trust involving RM8.75 million in a land purchase deal with the Rubber Industries Smallholders Development Authority. – The Vibes, March 18, 2021