KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court here today sentenced Datuk Peter Anthony to three years imprisonment and a fine of RM50,000 after he was found guilty of forging a letter for a Mechanical and Electrical Systems (M&E) maintenance work at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
Judge Azura Alwi also ordered the former Sabah Infrastructure Development Minister to serve a 15-month jail sentence if he failed to pay the fine.
Peter was charged in his capacity as managing director of Syarikat Asli Jati Sdn Bhd with forging a letter from the office of 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 seven years and a fine, upon conviction.
However, Azura, in response to an application by Peter's counsel, S. Devanandan, allowed a stay of execution of the jail sentence pending an appeal at the High Court against today's decision, but ordered the RM50,000 fine to be paid today.
Earlier during mitigation, Devanandan asked the court to impose a lenient sentence on his client on grounds that Peter had cooperated until the end of the trial and appeared in court without fail, when required.
"In this case, Syarikat Asli Jati has helped hundreds of UMS students and he (Peter) had also helped the poor students at UMS," said the lawyer.
Deputy public prosecutor Haresh Prakash Somiah applied for a deterrent sentence as a lesson to others, including politicians and civil servants.
He requested the court to impose a jail sentence of three to five years and a fine of between RM30,000 and RM50,000 on the accused.
In this case, he said, UMS reputation as a public university, had also been affected as the contract given to REMT Utama Sdn Bhd had to be withdrawn.
"Imagine if REMT Utama were to sue UMS for the action.. the funds allocated for students had to be used to pay the suit," he added.
Haresh Prakash submitted that the accused had planned the scam to an extent that he wanted to meet with the then prime minister and finance minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to get the project.
According to the DPP, based on the testimony by the accused, it was confirmed that lobbying and seeking support through letters to obtain projects and tenders is a common practice in the country.
"But it is appalling because it is by Peter who the former Sabah Minister of Development and Infrastructure of Sabah," he said.
"The accused was willing to do anything to get the project without taking into account the consequences and implications of his actions on other individuals," he added.
Meanwhile, Devanandan said his client would file an appeal against the jail sentence at the High Court soon.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu May 26 2022
The Sessions Court today sentenced Datuk Peter Anthony to three years imprisonment and a fine of RM50,000 after he was found guilty of forging a letter for a M&E maintenance work at UMS. - Astro AWANI/Shahir Omar
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Bakal calon disaran isi borang, buat semakan awal - SPR
Bakal calon yang ingin bertanding dalam PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu disaran mengisi borang dan membuat semakan awal.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: KPWKM beri bantuan RM3,000 kepada keluarga mangsa
Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat sumbang bantuan RM3,000 kepada waris mangsa nahas helikopter yang terhempas di Lumut.
Warga emas dibaling sambal tumis sebelum disamun
Mangsa cuba menahan kesakitan yang dialami dan disebabkan hentakan itu dia mengalami kecederaan di bahagian kepala.
Kerajaan akan umum butiran mekanisme rasionalisasi subsidi - Rafizi
Kerajaan akan memaklumkan butiran mengenai pelan rasionalisasi subsidi termasuk kriteria dan implikasinya tidak lama lagi.
[TERKINI] Tun Mahathir antara individu disiasat isu pengisytiharan harta - SPRM
Ketua Pesuruhjaya Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) Tan Sri Azam Baki berkata bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad adalah antara individu yang disiasat berhubung isu pengisytiharan harta.
10 wira negara korban helikopter terhempas selamat bersemadi
Proses pengebumian dijalankan selepas semua jenazah selesai menjalani proses bedah siasat di Jabatan Forensik Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) Ipoh pada jam 2.20 petang pada Rabu.
Inflasi Malaysia kekal 1.8 peratus pada Mac 2024 - Perangkaan
Inflasi Malaysia kekal 1.8 peratus pada Mac 2024 dengan mata indeks mencatatkan 132.2 berbanding 129.9 pada bulan yang sama tahun sebelumnya.
Tangisan anak bongsu Noor Rahiza undang sebak
Tangisan anak bongsu Bintara Muda TNL Noor Rahiza Anuar yang berusia enam tahun ketika melihat jenazah ibunya dikebumikan malam tadi mengundang rasa sebak sehingga membuatkan ramai hadirin turut menangis.
Akaun Fleksibel KWSP: Pengeluaran tahun pertama dianggarkan cecah RM25 bilion
Akaun 3 KWSP yang menjadi tumpuan ramai, dikenali sebagai Akaun Fleksibel dan merupakan pilihan bagi sejumlah 16.07 juta ahli.
Lelaki ragut wanita di Klang menangis dipenjara lima tahun, dua sebatan
Tertuduh, Muhammad Syafiei Hasan, 24, dikenakan hukuman itu selepas mengaku bersalah atas pertuduhan yang dibaca di hadapan Hakim, Sharifah Hascindie Syed Omar.