Warisan VP Anthony remanded for land deal investigations

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony has been remanded for three days to enable police to investigate his alleged role in the RM155mil Risda land deal in Sabah’s central Tongod district.

Sources said the case was related to a deal that was later aborted by Risda, which comes under the purview of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

The ministry was then headed by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (now Warisan president) as its minister.

It is understood that the deal was terminated when it was realised that Risda could not buy the property as it involved native customary land. A sum of about RM15mil paid as an advance for the land was reportedly not returned to Risda by an appointed legal firm.

Anthony had surrendered himself to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Friday after the MACC issued a notice on Wednesday requiring Anthony and lawyer Micheal Persius Ubu to present themselves within 48 hours to assist investigations.

Anthony was arrested at 12.30pm on Friday while Micheal has yet to surrender himself, and is still wanted by the MACC.

At 11.15am yesterday, Anthony was brought to the Kota Kinabalu magistrate’s court by MACC officials where magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus issued the remand order that expires tomorrow.

Anthony, represented by counsel Martin Tommy and Cedric Choo, appeared calm as he arrived in an orange MACC shirt and clutching a Bible.

As he was escorted out of the courtroom, Anthony said: “Warisan menang sudah, makin diorang tangkap, makin orang sokong (Warisan has already won. The more they arrest, the more people support).”

Meanwhile, the bail granted to Anthony by the MACC in connection with the case involving the skimming of RM1.5bil rural project funds for Sabah expires on Jan 26.

Anthony was among 13 people, including Mohd Shafie, arrested in October last year in connection with the case.