ROGER NG’S CASE SET FOR JUNE 15
Ex-Goldman Sachs banker to face 4 charges in KL High Court linked to 1MDB bonds
FORMER Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng, who is in the United States facing charges relating to the multi-billion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal is expected to be back in Malaysia after June 1.
Ng, or his birth name Ng Chong Hwa, is facing four counts of abetting Goldman Sachs pertaining to the sale of guaranteed notes and bonds belonging to a subsidiary of 1MDB totalling US$6.5 billion.
Deputy public prosecutor Norinna Bahadun told the High Court yesterday that according to an application by the US Department of Justice (DoJ), Ng would return after June 1.
“We would like to ask for a new date to be fixed since the accused (Ng) has been scheduled to return after June 1.”
Norinna also informed the court that the prosecution was considering making an amendment to Ng’s charges.
Ng’s counsel, Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, said his client’s trial at a Federal Court in the eastern district of New York had yet to begin.
“I was informed that the earliest the trial could start (there) is by the end of June or maybe in July because the New York Court was closed after Oct 1 last year and it has just opened. So old cases will be coming up first.”
Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin fixed June 15 for the next case management.
On Dec 19, 2018, Ng, 48, pleaded not guilty to four counts of abetting Goldman Sachs over the sale of 1MDB bonds totalling US$6.5 billion by leaving out material facts and making false statements.
The former head of investment banking for Goldman Sachs Malaysia was charged with committing the offences at the 1MDB office, Level 8, Menara IMC, No. 8, Jalan Sultan Ismail here between March 19, 2012 and Nov 11, 2013.
In May 2019, Ng was extradited to the US to face criminal charges by the DoJ in relation to the 1MDB scandal.