No bail for former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng will remain in prison after the Sessions Court here yesterday dismissed his application to be released on bail pending his extradition proceedings to the United States to face three criminal charges relating to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

In passing the decision, presiding judge M. M. Edwin Paramjothy in his judgment said there was insufficient evidence regarding Ng’s health condition, and also posed a ‘flight risk’ where there is the possibility that he would abscond.

Paramjothy also said the ground for bail in the case was merely because of the hardship on the respondent ( Ng) in preparing his legal brief with his counsel, was misplaced.

The court subsequently ordered Ng to remain behind bars pending the disposal of the extradition proceeding.

“Although the respondent’s health condition concerns the court, the fact remains that the evidence presented before the court is not sufficient enough to show that the respondent is not being inadequately treated in custody,” the judge said.

Later, Ng’s counsel, Datuk Tan Hock Chuan applied to the court to instruct the Prison Department to give two hours in two sessions per week visiting hours for him to see his client.

Last Friday, Tan had made an oral application to the court for his client to be freed on bail pending the extradition hearing.

In the application, Tan said his client was suffering from Leptospirosis, suspected dengue, and viral infection while he was being held in custody, and the lawyers have written a letter to the prison authorities to seek medical treatment for Ng while, the prosecution objected to the application on grounds that a proper application should be filed formally so that the prosecution could put in a proper reply to it.

The court set Jan 22 for mention for the counsels to update on any development in the extradition case.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadhir Mohd Khairuddin acted for the prosecution.

On December 12, 2018, the government filed an application to extradite Ng to the United States to face three criminal charges related to 1MDB and the application was made by the Attorney- General’s Chambers on behalf of the US government, who wanted Ng sent back to America to face the Federal Court in the eastern district of New York.

The High Court here on Dec 13 dismissed Ng’s application to be released on bail pending the hearing of the extradition request on the grounds that Ng may escape from the country and the case involved public and national interests.

On Dec 19, 2018, Ng pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here to four counts of abetting with Goldman Sachs over the sale of 1MDB bonds totalling USD 6.5 billion by leaving out material facts and making false statements. — Bernama