KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah infrastructure development minister Datuk Peter Anthony walked out a free man from the Special Corruption Court here after he was acquitted of five counts of money-laundering charges involving RM8.75 million.
The Melalap assemblyman was also acquitted of abetting a Sabah lawyer in committing criminal breach of trust.
Judge Abu Bakar Manat discharged and acquitted Anthony from all six charges following a fresh development in the case.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Haresh Prakash Somiah from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) informed the court that Anthony's representation was accepted.
The DPP asked the court to give Anthony a discharge not amounting to acquittal but did not disclose any reason.
Counsel Martin Tommy, who represented Anthony, thanked Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun for accepting their representation letter.
Tommy, among others, argued that the subject matter, in this case, involved RM15 million, which had been paid by another accused (the lawyer) to the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda).
Thus, he asked for his client to be given a discharge amounting to an acquittal.
Anthony had on June 11, 2020, claimed trial to five counts of charges involving money laundering and receiving proceeds from an illegal activity amounting to RM8.75 million between 2014 and 2016.
All his cases were believed to have been linked to the sale of land to Risda.
Two other charges fell under the Section 4(1)(a) of the of Anti-Money Laundering and Prevention of Terrorism Financing Act 2001 before it was amended in 2014, while the rest came under Section 4(1)(b) of the amended act.
On June 18, 2020, Anthony pleaded not guilty to abetting lawyer Persius Henry Bolutong @ Michael Persius Ubu in embezzling RM15,545,400, involving land deals linked to Risda between 2014 and 2015.
The money was said to be 10 per cent of proceeds from the sale of oil palm land in Sungai Pinangah and Sungai Labau in Tongod district.
When approached outside the courtroom, the Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat president said: "Thank God. We will continue to struggle for Sabah. That's important, the general election is very near."
Meanwhile, Michael's representation was not accepted. The court fixed Oct 12 for re-mention of the case.
Michael faces one charge of criminal breach of trust and two counts of money laundering pertaining to the sale of native land to Risda between 2014 and 2015.
Michael was represented by counsels Zahir Shah and Angela Bultong Ubu.