PUTRAJAYA: Police will determine if it will proceed with the existing probe or initiate a new one into former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The Home Minister said the length of time Ng will remain in Malaysia depends on how much time authorities need to complete their probe.
Saifuddin said police had already started an investigation into Ng before he was handed over to the US Department of Justice in 2019.
"My responsibility as Home Minister was to facilitate the return of Roger Ng to Malaysia. The investigation is under the police's jurisdiction," he told a press conference on Monday (Oct 9).
Asked if Ng, who was sentenced to 10 years' jail in the United States would return to serve his jail term, Saifuddin replied: "We have not come to that part yet.
"He has just returned and let's see the outcome of the investigation," he added.
Saifuddin said Ng is being investigated by the police and he is not aware if other agencies and authorities would want to question him.
He said that the US DOJ and the Attorney General's Chambers (then led by Tan Sri Tommy Thomas), exchanged correspondence and the former requested for Ng to be brought to the United States.
"We agreed to surrender Ng to the DOJ so that he could face trial in the United States. The agreement was that once the trial concluded – whatever the outcome – Ng was to be returned to Malaysia.
"This was to enable our authorities to continue their investigation into the 1MDB case," he said.
Malaysia had allowed for an extension for Ng to remain in the United States until February next year but his trial ended early.
Saifuddin said Ng's return would allow the police to continue with its probe as well as efforts to recover assets, be it from Goldman Sachs or 1MDB.
"That is the main objective of bringing him back – so that he can assist in recovering assets owned by the people," he added.
On whether Ng was now under police custody, Saifuddin said: "Police are taking care of him now. I am not too sure of the arrangement."
Ng arrived in Malaysia Sunday (Oct 8) morning.
On Oct 6, a US court said that Ng, who, in March was convicted of helping loot billions of dollars from 1MDB, would be returned to Malaysia to face charges.
