Ex-Goldman Sachs banker now willing to face charges in US

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng has agreed to face criminal charges relating to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) in the United States, said his lawyer Datuk Tan Hock Chuan.

Tan informed the court that Ng was willing to be extradited to the United States within 30 days and had asked the extradition proceedings to be waived.

“The respondent intends to defend the case on its merit in the court for the eastern district of New York and the respondent has reached an agreement with the US Department of Justice for bail and terms thereof,” Tan said.

Sessions Court judge M.M. Edwin Paramjothy then said the court was satisfied that Ng consented to return to the United States to face the charges.

“The court hereby commits the respondent to prison to await the warrant of the minister under the Extradition Act,” he said.

Ng, whose real name is Ng Chong Hwa, looked calm during the proceeding.

On Dec 12 last year, the government filed an application to extradite Ng, 47, to the United States to face three criminal charges related to 1MDB.

The United States wanted Ng to be extradited to face the Federal Court in the eastern district of New York.

On Dec 13 last year, the High Court here dismissed Ng’s application to be released on bail pending the hearing of the extradition request because Ng may abscond and the case involved public and national interests.

On Dec 19, Ng claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to four counts of abetting with Goldman Sachs over the sale of 1MDB bonds totalling US$6.5bil (RM26.4bil) by leaving out material facts and making false statements.

DPP Faizul Aswad Masri later told the press that Ng would be held at the Sungai Buloh prison until his extradition to the United States is cleared.