‘DoJ has 60 days to give proof of Ng’s link to 1MDB’

KUALA LUMPUR: The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) has 60 days to submit documents and proof that former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng Chong Hwa is linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.

Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Amar Singh said this was the period given by the courts to the DoJ to meet the condition before approval was given to extradite Ng to the US.

“Ng’s arrest by the police on Nov 1 was based on an arrest warrant applied by the DoJ over its investigation into 1MDB.

“However, the decision on whether there is a need to extradite Ng to the US can only be made by the courts once the DoJ submits the necessary documents and evidence within 60 days of his arrest,” he said.

Amar was speaking at the launch of the Sri Hartamas police station here on Wednesday.

Present were City police chief Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim and his deputy, Datuk Zainuddin Yaacob.

Amar said the court could only decide on when Ng could be extradited once they received the evidence.

On whether Ng would be freed if the DoJ failed to provide the necessary documents, he said it depended on the courts.

“All decisions, whether to free him or extradite him within the 60-day period can only be made by the courts.

“Police only carry out their duties based on instructions issued by the court,” he said.

On Nov 2, the New Straits Times Press reported that Ng would be extradited to the US to enable him to face prosecution over the issue.

Ng was arrested on Nov 1 after the US government applied for an arrest warrant against him after charges were filed against him in a New York court.

The DoJ had charged Ng’s former colleague, Tim Leissner, as well as fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, over funds misappropriated from 1MDB and for paying bribes to Malaysian and Abu Dhabi officials.