Najib’s 1MDB trial: ex-Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng will be called as key defence witness, Shafee confirms

PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will call ex-Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng as a key defence witness in his ongoing 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial, his lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah confirmed.

Shafee also said Najib’s legal team had initially faced difficulties tracking down Ng, revealing that  there was uncertainty over whether Ng was under witness protection.

“But, finally, we’re happy to say Ng will be brought in for us to produce him as a witness.

“We want to ask him a lot about the key players in the 1MDB scandal — the real actors,” he said during a press conference at the Palace of Justice on Monday (April 21).

Shafee said Najib’s team has yet to meet Ng in person but has requested to interview him before he testifies in court.

He stressed that such an interview is crucial for Najib to preview Ng’s testimony and for Ng to prepare.

However, if Ng refuses to cooperate, Shafee confirms they will subpoena him — compelling him by court order to testify.

This follows the prosecution’s announcement last week that Ng would be made available as a potential defence witness.

When asked whether the defence would still call Ng to testify if he refused to be interviewed, Shafee firmly stated that the defence would summon him to take the stand.

“If he is willing to be interviewed, we (the defence) may question him for 30 minutes or an hour, and then proceed to call him to testify.

“But if he refuses to be interviewed, how are we supposed to prepare his written testimony? If he agrees to the interview, we can prepare his statement accordingly,” Shafee said.

In March 2023, the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York convicted Ng of conspiring to launder money, misappropriating over US$100mil from 1MDB funds, and violating the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by bribing officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi. He was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.

Roger was extradited to Malaysia in October 2023. At the time, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail explained on Oct 7 last year that the extradition was to assist the government in recovering assets purchased using misappropriated 1MDB funds.