Former Sabah minister's last-ditch appeal to avoid jail

The Court of Appeal is set to hear a last-ditch appeal by former Sabah infrastructure and development minister Peter Anthony tomorrow to avoid a three-year jail term over a forgery case.

The Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) president was found guilty of forging a letter from the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) deputy vice-chancellor’s office.

He was accused of forging the letter concerning a maintenance contract dated June 9, 2014, at the office of the principal private secretary to the prime minister at the Perdana Putra building, Putrajaya, between June 13 and Aug 21, 2014.

In 2020, before the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, he claimed trial to the charge under Section 468 of the Penal Code, which provides a maximum seven-year jail term and a fine.

The trial court two years ago convicted the Melalap assemblyperson and imposed a three-year jail term and RM50,000 fine.

While he paid the fine, he obtained a stay of execution on the jail term pending disposal of his appeal.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court last year upheld his guilty verdict and sentencing.

Peter, 53, risks losing his state seat if the appellate court upholds his conviction.

Article 48 (1)(e) of the Federal Constitution disqualifies a parliamentarian or assemblyperson found guilty in a criminal case and sentenced to two years in jail or fined more than RM2,000.

The prosecution called 15 witnesses to testify against Peter, including former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, former treasury secretary-general Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, and former chief justice Zaki Azmi.

Peter was among three witnesses who took the stand for his defence.

Peter Anthony retains KDM Malaysia's presidency

Ex-Sabah minister seeks to quash conviction, jail term over forgery

Court upholds ex-Sabah minister's conviction for forgery