Ex-Goldman Sachs banker seeks review of 1MDB-linked US$6.5b bonds case
Former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng is seeking a review of the four charges against him in relation to the 1MDB-linked US$6.5 billion bonds case.
This was confirmed by defence counsel Tan Hock Chuan this morning.
"On instruction from my client, a letter of representation was sent to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) yesterday.
"It is in relation to a review of the charges against him," Tan told the media after the mention of the case before two separate Kuala Lumpur High Courts today.
Two of the charges were mentioned before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, while the other two were mentioned before judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin.
Under the law, a letter of representation is a mode whereby an accused may try to resolve a criminal case - either by proposing for the charges to be withdrawn or proposing for the accused to plead guilty to a lesser offence, among others.
Last week, it was reported that the prosecution had withdrawn the 1MDB-linked US$6.5 billion bonds case against Goldman Sachs, following an agreement between the international investment bank and the Malaysian government to resolve the matter.
It was also reported that the prosecution had so far maintained the case against Ng.
Earlier this morning during case mention before Zaini, Tan informed the court that Ng’s defence team has sent the letter of representation to the AGC.
“We have written a letter of representation to the AGC yesterday, in light of developments last Friday when the charges against Goldman Sachs were withdrawn,” Tan said.
The lawyer then applied for another mention date to update the court over whether the AGC accepts the letter of representation.
DPP Roz Mawar Rozain then informed the court that Ng is still on extradition in the United States to await the beginning of a trial in New York over a similar 1MDB-linked case against the accused.
She said the US trial is set to begin in February next year, with jury-selection set to take place in January.
Roz also made an oral application for Ng’s case before Zaini’s court to be transferred to Jamil’s court, so that all the four charges can be heard jointly there.
Tan, however, reminded the court that there is still the pending outcome of the letter of representation to the AGC.
The lawyer added that the defence seeks for the prosecution to put in a formal written application for the transfer.
Zaini then directed the prosecution to file a formal written transfer application.
The judge also fixed Nov 20 for the tentative first-day of the trial of Ng over two of the charges.
Later during case mention before Jamil, Tan also informed the court about the letter of representation to the AGC regarding the overall case against Ng.
Jamil then fixed Nov 20 for further mention to update the court over the outcome of the letter of representation.
Ng is facing four counts of abetting Goldman Sachs over the sale of guaranteed notes and bonds belonging to a subsidiary of 1MDB amounting to US$6.5 billion.
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