KOTA KINABALU – KDM party president Datuk Peter Anthony was arrested by police around midnight last night over the riot in Tenom on nomination day yesterday.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah confirmed the arrest, but added that Anthony was released this morning.
“Following the riots during nomination day in Tenom, we received a police report on the same day.
“An investigation paper was opened under Section 24A (2) of the Election Act and Section 147 of the Penal Code.
“The investigation led to the arrest of the KDM party president,” he said.
A riot broke out yesterday afternoon after KDM party supporters went wild following the Election Commission’s (EC) rejection of Anthony's nomination papers.
Police used tear gas to disperse supporters, while videos of the protest showed Anthony calling his followers to rush into a building.
According to Idris, some 300 KDM supporters had been involved.
Idris also said the EC’s refusal to accept Anthony’s nomination papers was due to an ongoing court case.
Last May, former Sabah infrastructure development minister Anthony was found guilty of forging a letter in 2014 from the office of the Universiti Malaysia Sabah deputy vice-chancellor for a system maintenance contract work.
Anthony, who is the Melalap assemblyman, was sentenced to three years in jail and a fine of RM50,000. However, he managed to obtain a stay of execution.
Tenom will now see a five-cornered fight between Pakatan Harapan (DAP), Barisan Nasional (Umno), Warisan, and two independent candidates. – The Vibes, November 6, 2022
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