Kuala lumpur: The Court of Appeal today scheduled August 20 to hear former Sabah Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Peter Anthony’s application to review a prior decision that upheld his conviction and sentence.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Peter was sentenced to three years in prison and fined RM50,000 for falsifying documents tied to a maintenance and service contract at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). A three-member panel headed by Judge Datuk Azman Abdullah set the hearing date after deciding to review the full written grounds of judgment that affirmed the conviction.
‘Having considered the submissions and affidavits filed, we note that the arguments touch upon the broad grounds previously provided. Therefore, we find it necessary to review the full written judgment,’ stated Azman, who was joined by Judges Datuk Lim Chong Fong and Datuk Dr Lim Hock Leng.
Earlier, Peter’s lawyer, Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, requested a rescheduling, noting that Peter currently serves as the assemblyman for Melalap and may be affected by the anticipated dissolution of the Sabah state legislative assembly in September. Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin did not object to the request for a new date.
On March 14, Peter filed a notice of motion seeking to review and set aside his conviction and sentence, which were upheld by the Court of Appeal on March 4. He also sought to quash the warrant of committal issued to Kajang Prison and requested any consequential orders to ensure justice.
On March 4, the Court of Appeal ordered Peter to serve a three-year prison sentence after dismissing his final appeal against the conviction and sentence imposed by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court in May 2022. The Kuala Lumpur High Court upheld the conviction and sentence on April 18, 2023, prompting Peter to file an appeal the following day. He has since paid the RM50,000 fine.
Peter was charged under Section 468 of the Penal Code, which allows for a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment and a fine. He was accused of falsifying a letter from UMS’ office of the deputy vice-chancellor in his role as managing director of Asli Jati Sdn Bhd. The offence allegedly occurred at the office of the principal private secretary to the Prime Minister, Perdana Putra Building, Putrajaya, between June 13 and August 21, 2014.