KUALA LUMPUR – The high court here today has dismissed former Sabah infrastructure development minister Datuk Peter Anthony’s appeal to set aside his conviction and sentence for forging letters related to a maintenance and service contract at Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
In his judgment today, judge Datuk Ahmad Bache said the appellant failed to raise a reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case.
The court also upheld the three-year prison term and a fine of RM50,000 imposed by the sessions court here after Anthony was found guilty on May 26 last year.
Anthony’s lawyer S.Devanandan informed the court that they will be seeking a stay of conviction and sentence pending the final appeal.
In response, deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said Anthony is not considered a flight risk and has not caused any disruptions of the court proceedings.
The judge then allowed the stay of execution and conviction, pending Anthony’s final appeal.
Anthony was previously charged in his capacity as managing director of Syarikat Asli Jati Sdn Bhd with forging a letter from the office of the UMS deputy vice-chancellor, dated June 9, 2014, by inserting a false statement with the intention of using it for fraudulent purposes.
The offence was allegedly committed at the office of the prime minister’s principal private secretary at the Perdana Putra building in Putrajaya between June 13 and August 21, 2014.
The charge was framed under Section 468 of the Penal Code, which provides an imprisonment for up to seven years and a fine, upon conviction. – The Vibes, April 18, 2023
