KOTA KINABALU – A video of former Sabah infrastructure development minister Datuk Peter Anthony purportedly attending a public function when he was supposed to be undergoing self-isolation has surfaced.
Peter had skipped his trial for allegedly using false documents on April 19. In seeking postponement of the trial his lawyer, Datuk D. Senthinathan, had told the court that Peter had been ordered to undergo quarantine for ten days from April 16 to 26.
But a video and several photos of him attending what was supposed to be a community leadership function in Kampung Limbahau in Papar on April 23 recently surfaced in a pro-Perikatan Nasional WhatsApp group.
The 50-year-old NGO leader-turned-politician for Warisan is charged in court with falsifying a letter from the office of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) vice-chancellor dated June 9, 2014.
It is alleged that he did this with the intention of deceiving the office of the principal private secretary to the prime minister at the Perdana Putra building in Putrajaya between June 13, 2014 and August 21, 2014.
The Melalap assemblyman also faces an alternative charge of using a false document as a genuine one, allegedly from the deputy vice-chancellor of UMS dated June 9, 2014.
He is charged under section 468 of the Penal Code and faces up to seven years incarceration or fine.
Meanwhile, Anthony has rubbished the allegations. He said a Bernama report stating that his lawyer told the court that he was ordered to be quarantined was fake.
“For your information, my quarantine began on April 16, 2021 and I was already relieved from the house observation on April 20 after being confirmed negative with Covid-19.
“A second test held at the Keningau quarantine centre was also satisfactory,” he wrote on Facebook.
Anthony also attached photos of his release papers and pointed out the claim was aimed to tarnish his image and reputation. – The Vibes, April 24, 2021
