KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Peter Anthony today testified that he did not deceive the Ministry of Finance (MOF), former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and former Chief Justice Tun Zaki Azmi over the support letter pertaining to the service and maintenance of the mechanical and electrical (ME) system at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

The former Sabah Infrastructure Development Minister told the Sessions Court here today that he also did not falsify the support letter.

Neither did he deceive the prosecution witnesses, namely, his friend Mohd Shukur Mohd Din; former UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International), Prof Dr Shariff Abd Kadir Shariff Omang; Ulink Property Sdn Bhd former chairman, Datuk Abdullah Mohd Said and UMS former Vice-Chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah, he said .

Peter was being cross-examined by deputy public prosecutor, Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin on the second day of the court proceeding on the charge of falsifying the support letter.

Peter, 51, stated that he had direct access to Najib, who was the prime minster then due to his good relationship and close friendship with Najib's chief private secretary, the late Datuk Azlin Alias.

Questioned by Wan Shaharuddin whether he had personally met Najib to lobby for any project, Peter said yes as his company is a registered construction company with a lot of workers.

Wan Shaharuddin: So, Datuk (Peter) had an advantage over the other companies in getting a project as you had access to the prime minister to lobby for it.

Peter: Perhaps my company had the edge.

Questioned by his counsel, S. Devanandah whether Peter and his company, Asli Jati Engineering had any interest if he got the contract, he said it would not benefit his company solely but UMS too, without it providing the capital.

Peter's personal driver, Imy Christopher, 36, testified that Mohd Shukor had never come to Peter's office at Plaza Damai, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and that she had never met the man at the office.

Imy, the second defence witness, also testified that no one else besides her could use the computer at Peter's office as it had a password.

The hearing before judge Azura Alwi will continue on Feb 18.

Last Dec 14, the Sessions Court ordered Peter to make his defence against the charge of falsifying the support letter dated June 9, 2014 and purportedly from the UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor's office for the purpose of cheating after the prosecution managed to prove a prima facie case against him.

He allegedly committed the offence at the late Azlin's office, 5th Floor, Perdana Putra building, Putrajaya between June 13 and Aug 21, 2014.

The offence under Section 468 of the Penal Code provides for a jail term of up to seven years and a fine upon conviction.

-- BERNAMA