KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today declined an application by former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng to be freed on bail following his remand under the Extradition Act 1992 in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) investigation.
High Court Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah in dismissing the application said Ng or his real name Ng Chong Hwa, 46, was a flight risk and is likely to abscond.
“This is a special circumstance case where there is a probability of the applicant (Ng) to abscond,” the judge said adding that Ng’s detention was proper and in line with the law.
Sequerah said when the case involves extradition, the court has to consider the treaty between two countries, Malaysia and the United States.
He had also in his judgement considered the fact that Ng was facing three criminal charges related to 1MDB at the United States District Court, Eastern District Court of New York.
The court also found the applicant's reason that it would be easier for him to consult with his lawyers if he was freed on bail could not be applied as he could discuss anything during his lawyer's visits to the prison.
Ng made the application to set aside the magistrate court’s 60-day remand order pending the extradition proceedings following the charges filed by the United States' Department of Justice (DoJ).
Ng was represented by lawyer Datuk Tan Hock Chuan while deputy public prosecutor Shukor Abu Bakar prosecuted.
Ng, who was arrested here on Nov 1, in connection with the 1MDB investigation, will be sent to the United States where he is facing charges filed by the DoJ.
Ng was picked up after a warrant pf arrest was issued for him following a request from the United States.
Police are also assisting the DoJ with the extradition process.
It was previously reported that the DoJ had charged fugitive Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho or Jho Low and two former Goldman Sachs investment bankers over the 1MDB scandal.
Low and Ng were charged in the federal court in the Eastern District of New York with conspiring to launder billions of dollars embezzled from 1MDB.
Low and Ng, were also charged with conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by paying bribes to various Malaysian and Abu Dhabi officials.