Kota Kinabalu: The case of former State Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Peter Anthony (pic), charged with five counts of money-laundering involving a sum of RM8.75 million and abetting a lawyer in committing criminal breach of trust, will be mentioned on April 28 this year.
Sessions Court Judge Abu Bakar Manat set the date for Peter when his case was brought up for mention on Tuesday.
The court fixed the date for mention on the outcome of the representation letters by Peter and Persius Henry cg @ Michael Persius Ubu.
During the proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Haresh Prakash Somiah informed the court that the representation letters from parties are still under consideration by the Senior Federal Counsel.
The prosecution asked for another mention date.
Meanwhile, counsels Douglas Lind and Luke Ressa Balang who represented Peter, informed the court that they discharged themselves from representing the latter.
As for the appeal application at the High Court pertaining to striking all the charges against Peter, Douglas said the appeal is still pending but the High Court had fixed March 17 for e-review.
Counsel Martin Tommy will be representing Peter.
For Micheal, the court also set the same date as Peter, who is Melalap Assemblyman.
On the first to fifth counts, Peter, 50, is accused of receiving illegal proceeds from a company between July 25, 2014 and January 18, 2016.
The money was allegedly transferred from the company into another company’s bank account.
The offence is framed under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2004.
Peter is also accused of abetting with Michael, 64, who was an agent of Risda, which entrusted him with a sum of RM15,545,400 that was paid through a cheque.
The cheque was later banked into an account that belonged to Michael’s law firm and the money was for 10 per cent payment from the sale price of the 6,768,688 acres of oil palm plantation in Sungah Pinangah and Sungai Labau in Tongod.
The charge stated that Michael had dishonestly released the property, which violated the contract with Risda.
The alleged incident took place between July 22, 2014 and November 19, 2015 at Michael’s law firm in Beverly Hills, Penampang.
Peter and Micheal were not present.
