KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today upheld the three years' jail and RM50,000 fine against former Sabah Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Peter Anthony for corruption.
Judge Datuk Ahmad Bache said the Sessions Court judge did not err when sentencing Anthony after finding him guilty of using a forged letter from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) deputy vice-chancellor's office with the intention to deceive the prime minister's principal private secretary.
The document was in regards to a purported collaboration with UMS to fund and set up a mechanical and engineering technical training centre via direct negotiation in July 2014.
Ahmad in his judgment said the defence led by lawyer S. Devanandan had failed to cast reasonable doubt on the prosecution's case.
"The decision by the trial judge was based on solid evidence and not plucked from the air.
"This court agrees with the trial judge that the accused's statements are all afterthoughts as he failed to reveal everything during investigation by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
"Thus, I am affirming the Sessions Court's decision and dismissing this appeal," he said.
The court also dismissed Anthony's application to reduce his sentence on grounds that he had contributed to the community and was a first offender.
The prosecution led by Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin objected to the application and pressed for a deterrent sentence.
"He is an educated man and holds a high position in the state government.
"The Sessions Court also acknowledged this factor when it handed down its sentence by balancing public interest and personal interest.
"The accused tried to dupe the top management of UMS as well as former finance minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
"A RM50,000 fine is just peanuts for this accused," he said.
The court, however, allowed Anthony's application for a stay of execution pending appeal at the Appellate Court.
Anthony was accused of committing the offence at the Perdana Putra Building in Putrajaya between June 13, 2014, and Aug 21, 2014.
The former Parti Warisan Sabah vice-president was also charged with an alternative count of using a false document as genuine, namely a letter from the office of the deputy vice-chancellor of UMS dated June 9, 2014, which had a false statement in the title of the letter, and he had reason to believe that the document is false, at the same place and time.
The charges were framed under Section 468 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum seven-year imprisonment and a fine upon conviction.
Anthony paid the fine and filed an appeal against the sentence in June last year.