KUALA LUMPUR: The US authorities have not given a time frame for how long former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng can be held in the country for Malaysia’s investigation into the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, says Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.
The Inspector-General of Police said Ng, 51, was detained on Monday after his arrival from the United States on Sunday.
“We are hoping he will give us the best cooperation pertaining to the probe.
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“Our goal is to recover 1MDB assets and ensure justice is served. We also aim to uncover his modus operandi in acquiring assets (related to the fund).
“We will detain and investigate him (in Malaysia) until we are satisfied with his statements and cooperation, there is no time limit,” he told a press conference at Bukit Aman here yesterday.
The 1MDB assets to be recovered include bonds, properties, vehicles and bank accounts, Razarudin added.
US prosecutors have said that when Ng, formerly Goldman’s head of investment banking in Malaysia, is returned to the United States, he will be required to begin his 10-year jail sentence there for his role in the financial scandal.
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Razarudin also said he hopes that through questioning Ng, the police could unearth more leads on their hunt for other suspects connected to the sovereign wealth fund, especially futigive financier Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low.
“We have never given up in tracking down and arresting Jho Low.
“Even if it takes beyond my tenure (as IGP), the police force will try to bring him back,” he said.
Ng is currently being investigated under Section 409 of the Penal Code and Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act (Amlatfa).
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Razarudin said the police will hand over Ng to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Securities Commission once they have completed their investigation on him.
The IGP said he can’t reveal where Ng is being held for security reasons.
“We have intelligence that shows his life would be in danger if his whereabouts are known,” he said.
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Razarudin said the police will also use information revealed during Ng’s court proceedings in the United States where relevant.
Back in March in New York, Ng was sentenced to 10 years’ jail – 11 months after he was found guilty of helping his former Goldman boss Tim Leissner embezzle money from 1MDB, launder the proceeds and bribe government officials.
Razarudin said the police are working with the US Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to recover assets worth RM93.2mil.
