KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Peter Anthony swears that he and his family will meet their demise if it was true that he forged documents connected to the court case in which he was convicted last year.
The former Sabah minister uttered the remarks in front of more than 1,000 people who attended a Kaamatan event at Dewan Sri Antanom in the interior Tenom district on Saturday (May 27).
“It’s okay, even if I am destined to go (to jail), I will still come out later and continue to fight for the people.
“I believe the fight will (continue) in my absence,” Anthony said to loud cheers from the floor.
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“I wish to state here, I dare to swear that my family and I will die if it's true I had forged documents,” Anthony said during the gathering, organised by his party Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM).
He said that those who had wronged him would receive retribution.
“I believe in karma.
“This case has been a test for me but I am not perturbed because I have never done it (forged documents).
“We must be honest in our struggles but maybe there are people who are unhappy and willing to do anything to bring me down.
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He said he took solace from Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s determination to rise above his difficulties.
“He is now our Prime Minister. That is why I am confident that, if we are honest in our struggles, victory will be on our side one day,” said the Melalap assemblyman.
Anthony filed an appeal on April 19 against the decision of the Kuala Lumpur High Court which upheld his conviction, prison sentence and fine for forging letters in relation to the mechanical and electrical system maintenance and service contract at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) nine years ago.
The High Court had a day earlier dismissed Anthony’s appeal to set aside the conviction and sentence imposed by the Sessions Court on May 26 last year after agreeing with the lower court judge's finding that the appellant falsified documents, despite knowing that the project was made through an open tender.
The matter will next be heard in the Court of Appeal, which has fixed July 28 for the next case management.
According to the notice of appeal, Anthony was dissatisfied with the ruling by High Court judge Justice Ahmad Bache who upheld the conviction and sentence of three years’ imprisonment and a fine of RM50,000 in default 15 months' jail imposed by Sessions judge Azura Alwi.
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In June last year, the former state infrastructure development minister filed an appeal at the High Court here against the prison sentence and fine imposed by Azura after finding him guilty of the charges.
As the managing director of Syarikat Asli Jati Sdn Bhd, Anthony was charged with falsifying a letter from the office of the UMS deputy vice-chancellor dated June 9, 2014, which included false statements with the intention to deceive.
The offence committed in the office of the principal private secretary to the prime minister at Perdana Putra building, Putrajaya between June 13 and Aug 21, 2014, was framed under Section 468 of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum prison sentence of seven years and a fine upon conviction.
Anthony had paid the RM50,000 fine.
