Ex-banker Roger Ng denied bail over flight risk

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court yesterday declined an application by former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng to be freed on bail following his remand under the Extradition Act 1992 in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) investigation.

Judicial Commissioner Collin Lawrence Sequerah, in dismissing the application, said Ng, whose full name is Ng Chong Hwa, 46, was a flight risk and was likely to abscond.

“This is a special circumstance case where there is a probability of the applicant absconding,” the judge said, adding that Ng’s detention was proper and in line with the law.

Sequerah said when the case involved extradition, the court had to consider the treaty between the countries, in this case Malaysia and the United States.

He had also, in his judgment, considered the fact that Ng was facing three criminal charges related to 1MDB at the US Federal Court in New York.

The court also found the applicant’s reason that it would be easier for him to consult with his lawyers if he was freed on bail could not be applied as he could discuss anything during his lawyer’s visits to the lock-up.

Ng made the application to set aside the magistrate court’s 60day remand order pending the extradition proceedings following the charges filed by the US Department of Justice (DoJ).

Ng was represented by Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, while deputy public prosecutor Shukor Abu Bakar prosecuted.

Ng, who was arrested here on Nov 1 in connection with the 1MDB investigation, would be sent to the US to face charges filed by DoJ.

Ng was picked up after a warrant of arrest was issued against him following a request from the US.

Police are assisting DoJ with the extradition process.

It was reported that DoJ had charged fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, and two former Goldman Sachs investment bankers over the 1MDB scandal. Low and Ng were charged at the Federal Court in the Eastern District of New York with conspiring to launder billions of dollars embezzled from 1MDB.

They were also charged with conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by bribing Malaysian and Abu Dhabi officials.