Former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng Chong Hwa
KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution in former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng Chong Hwa’s case has been ordered by the High Court here to obtain appropriate instructions from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) so the case will not be on hold for too long.
Justice Muhammad Jamil Hussin said this after deputy public prosecutor Zaki Asyraf Zubir informed the court of Ng’s temporary extradition to the United States (US) until Feb 28, 2024, to proceed with appeals in criminal cases that were brought against him there.
“If this case is postponed after February 2024, it will be too long. Maybe the prosecution can get proper instructions from the attorney-general,” said the judge who set Jan 10 for case management for the prosecution to inform the court of developments.
Earlier, Zaki told the court Ng’s criminal case in the US had concluded and his sentencing had been moved from Nov 9 to Dec 9.
Lawyer Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, representing Ng, said the Malaysian and US governments had agreed to the temporary extradition of his client to the US until Feb 28, 2024, and suggested the court fix the date for case management in January or February 2023. This is because the sentencing process had been set by the Eastern District Court of New York on Dec 9,” he added.
On April 8, Ng was found guilty by the US court of corruption charges related to his role in helping loot hundreds of millions of dollars from the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) fund.
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 by dropping material facts and making false statements.
He was charged with committing the offences 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 Sachs 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
