KUALA LUMPUR: Police investigations involving former Goldman Sachs banker, Roger Ng Chong Hwa have resulted in the investigating party identifying another individual from abroad who can help in the retrieval of assets belonging to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
The assets of the individual who is being investigated by the police are estimated to be worth millions of ringgit.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crimes Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the positive findings were based on the investigation involving Ng towards the recovery of 1MDB assets both domestically and abroad.
However, the identity of the individual abroad cannot be revealed at this time as it would interfere with the ongoing investigation.
"In fact, the effort to track him down to return the assets does not necessarily involve Ng alone but also involves another individual identified as having a connection with the ownership of the 1MDB funds.
"So, this is what we (the police) are currently tracking in the latest developments in the 1MDB case, and these assets are not necessarily in Malaysia and could be abroad," he said in a press conference at Menara KPJ at Jalan Tun Razak here today.
He also said the investigation against Ng was still ongoing and they are focusing mainly on bringing the assets home.
"These assets are in various locations, so this will be the focus of our investigation (JSJK) and he is still in police custody at the moment," he said.
Ng, who was sentenced to 10 years jail in the United States for his role in embezzling billions of dollars of 1MDB funds, arrived in Malaysia earlier this month to assist investigations into the scandal.
He was sentenced after jurors found him guilty of helping former Goldman Sachs boss Tim Leissner embezzle money from 1MDB, launder the proceeds, and bribe government officials to win business.
Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, a Malaysian financier and the scheme's suspected mastermind, was also indicted but remains at large.
Goldman settled with authorities in October 2020, agreeing to pay US$2.9 billion and having its Malaysian unit plead guilty to a corruption charge.
Ng was arrested in Malaysia in November 2018, and agreed to be extradited to the US.