Former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng still in the US, Court told

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng Chong Hwa, who is facing four counts of abetting Goldman Sachs pertaining to the sale of guaranteed notes and bonds belonging to a subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) to US$6.5 billion, is still in the US for trial in relations to the 1MDB scandal.

The court was informed the matter by deputy public prosecutor Zaki Asyraf Zubir during the case management before HighCourt judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan yesterday, which was also attended by Ng’s lawyer, Cains Tan.

He said Ng was still in the US for trial over 1MDB-related offences in the country and that the US Department of Justice (DoJ) had also asked for extension of his extradition until the disposal of the case there.

“It is understood that Ng’s case in the US is still in the discovery phase and he has not yet been tried on the charges against him. I cannot ascertain when he can return to Malaysia,” he added.

Following which, Tan also informed the court that the defence also did not know when Ng could be back in Malaysia.

Mohamed Zaini then set June 29 for further case management to obtain latest development on Ng’s status. On Dec 19, 2018, Ng was charged in the Sessions Court here with four counts of abetting Goldman Sachs pertaining to the sale of guaranteed notes and bonds belonging to a 1MDB subsidiary, amounting to US$6.5 billion, by omitting material facts and making false statements. He is alleged to have committed the offences at 1MDB office on Level 8, Menara IMC, No 8, Jalan Sultan Ismail here between March 19, 2012, and Nov 11, 2013 and was charged under Subsection 370(c) of Capital Markets and Services Act 2007, with a punishment of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine not less than RM1 million upon conviction.

Ng, 47, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In May last year, Ng was extradited to the US to face criminal charges by the DoJ in relation to the 1MDB scandal. — Bernama