KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Peter Anthony was slapped with five counts of money laundering charges amounting to RM8.75 million at the Sessions Court, here, today.
Anthony, who is vice-president of Parti Warisan Sabah, pleaded not guilty to the charges read separately before Judge Abu Bakar Manat.
According to his first charge sheet, Anthony was charged under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, where he is accused of being involved in money laundering on July 25, 2014.
He is accused of committing the offence at the Malayan Banking Berhad branch, Jalan Perpaduan Kampung Air, here, where he allegedly instructed Budiman Juta Sdn Bhd directors Safineh Doto and Ebby Roy Raimon to transfer RM1.75 million from the company's account into Syarikat Wondrous Enterprise Sdn Bhd.
In his second charge, Anthony is accused of receiving RM2 million, allegedly obtained through illegal activity from the same company, in which the money was transferred into the bank account of Asli Jati Engineering Sdn Bhd owned by Anthony.
He allegedly committed the offence, framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, at the same location on Sept 5, 2014.
Both the offences carry a jail term not more than five years and not more than RM5 million fine, or both, if convicted.
For the three other counts, the Malaysia Kadazandusun Murut Association president was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
For these offences, Anthony is accused of receiving RM500,000 on Sept 5, 2014 and RM400,000 on Dec 7, 2014. The money was said to have been transferred from Budiman Juta Sdn Bhd into Asli Jati Engineering Sdn Bhd bank account.
Anthony is also accused of receiving RM4.1 million from the same company on Nov 20, 2015 and Jan 18, 2016.
The prosecution team was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib, while Anthony was represented by counsels Luke Ressa Balang, Martin Tommy, Cedric Choo, and Datuk Douglas Lim.
During submission, the prosecution team requested the court to impose RM1 million bail with two local sureties. However, Anthony's lawyers suggested the court to allow RM100,000 bail and for their client to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office once in six months.
Abu Bakar then ordered Anthony to pay RM500,000 bail and to report to MACC once in two months. Anthony is also required to submit his passport to the court and if necessary, he is allowed to apply to get it back.
The court then fixed Aug 4 for remention of the case.
Anthony refused to speak to reporters when approached. However, his counsel Martin Tommy confirmed that the case involved Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) land deal.