Peter Anthony did not apply for pardon, says party

 

Peter Anthony, former president of KDM, is currently serving a three-year jail term for forgery. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) has dismissed local media reports that former party president Peter Anthony had applied for a royal pardon for his forgery conviction and prison sentence.

KDM secretary-general Willie Jude Junaidi said Peter had for now only applied for a review by the appeals court of his conviction and sentence, after his final appeal was dismissed on March 4.

In a statement, Willie added that the party has already notified Sabah speaker Kadzim Yahya about the review application.

Yesterday, the Daily Express quoted Kadzim as saying that Peter’s lawyers had notified him that Peter had applied for a royal pardon.

Peter, who is assemblyman for Melalap, is currently serving a three-year jail sentence. FMT reported on Friday that he filed his application for an appeals court review on March 14, which would be 10 days after his final appeal failed.

Under the Sabah state constitution, a nominated or elected assemblyman would be disqualified if convicted and sentenced to at least a year in prison or fined a minimum of RM2,000.

The disqualification takes effect 14 days after the court’s decision if no appeal or court proceeding was brought.

Peter was convicted for forging a letter from the office of the Universiti Malaysia Sabah deputy vice-chancellor 11 years ago in connection with a maintenance and service contract.

He was also fined RM50,000 by the sessions court in Kuala Lumpur in 2022. He has paid the fine. - FMT