Parti Warisan Sabah vice-president Peter Anthony under investigation for his alleged role in purchase of land in Tongod by Risda in 2014.
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah vice-president Peter Anthony has been remanded three days to assist in a corruption probe by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) into a RM155 million land deal.
Magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus made the order, effective today, following an application by the MACC.
Anthony arrived at the court premises at around 11.10am.
He was in handcuffs, clutching a Bible to his chest and clad in an orange T-shirt with the word “LOKAP SPRM” emblazoned on it.
The MACC officers took him to Balitus’ chambers, where the proceedings took about an hour before he was brought out.
Anthony was represented by Martin Tommy as the lead counsel and assisted by Cedric Choo.
As he was led away, he was heard saying “the more they arrest, the more people will support Warisan”.
Anthony was detained yesterday after presenting himself at the MACC office to have his statement taken over alleged corruption linked to the RM155 million purchase of two parcels of land in Tongod by the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) in 2014.
It is believed that Anthony had helped facilitate the deal. He was investigated by the police following a police report lodged by Risda in 2016, but he was cleared of any wrongdoing then.
According to Tommy, Anthony was supposed to be released today.
“However, this morning I received a call from the MACC office here, informing me that their office in KL had instructed them to proceed with the remand application,” he told reporters.
He added that the court also agreed to allow Anthony to be referred to the KPJ Hospital in Damai later today over a medical condition.
Anthony was also detained and remanded for five days in October last year by the anti-graft agency for another corruption probe involving RM1.5 billion in government funds under the rural and regional development ministry.
As director and owner of Asli Jati Engineering Sdn Bhd, Anthony was said to be among several businessmen and contractors in Sabah who had obtained projects under the rural and regional development ministry which was once helmed by Warisan president Shafie Apdal.
Anthony, who is the Kadazan Dusun Murut (KDM) Malaysia president, made his first foray into politics by joining Warisan after it was set up in October 2016. -FMT
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