High Court puts off Roger Ng trial pending sentencing in US case

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng Chong Hwa's case at the High Court here, involving US$6.5bil in bonds belonging to a 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) subsidiary, has been postponed pending sentencing in his criminal case in the United States on Sept 13.

On April 8, Ng (pic) was found guilty by a US court of corruption charges related to his role in helping loot hundreds of millions of dollars from 1MDB.

Deputy public prosecutor Zaki Asyraf Zubir had told the High Court earlier that Ng's criminal case in the United States had been concluded and sentencing was slated for Sept 13.

"The US Justice Department had applied for temporary extradition of Ng to New York until the end of August. I’m sure that it will apply for an extension as the sentencing is in September.

"As such, I hereby request a date of mention on Oct 18 or 19 to inform the court on the latest status of the accused in the United States,” he said during case management on Monday (June 20).

Ng’s lawyer Datuk Tan Hock Chuan confirmed the date of sentencing and also told the court that his client had filed an appeal against the US court’s decision.

"Therefore, I agree with the prosecution’s application for the new date of mention,” he said.

Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin then set Oct 19 for the prosecution and defence to inform the court of Ng's latest status.

On Dec 19, 2018, Ng pleaded not guilty to four charges of abetting Goldman Sachs over the sale of 1MDB bonds valued at US$6.5bil (RM28.61bil at current rates) by dropping material facts and making false statements.

The offences allegedly took place at the 1MDB office on the 8th Floor of Menara IMC, No 8 Jalan Sultan Ismail here between March 19, 2012 and Nov 11, 2013.

On Sept 4 last year, the charges against Goldman Sach International Ltd and its two entities in Asia, namely Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLC and Goldman Sachs (Singapore), were dropped after High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan allowed the prosecution’s application to withdraw the charges over the sale of 1MDB bonds valued at US$$6.5bil. – Bernama