INSPECTOR-GENERAL of Police Razarudin Husain has urged the people to give police the necessary leeway to thoroughly investigate former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng, as it involves the government’s and the people’s money.

He said the investigations into the 51-year-old Ng, who was extradited from the United States to help with the investigation into the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case, will continue until the authorities are satisfied.

“There is no time frame (for this investigation). So we will continue (our investigation) until we are satisfied because it is the government’s and the public’s money at stake.

“We will hold press conferences from time to time. Give us time to investigate (before we reveal anything).

“It has only been two days (since the police started their investigation). This is not a case of stealing chicken, so please be patient,” he told reporters after opening the 76th Marine Police Day celebration at the marine police base in Batu Uban today.

Ng was reportedly brought back to Malaysia by a special police team to assist in investigations into the scandal. 

On January 9, the High Court granted him a discharge not amounting to acquittal over four charges of abetting Goldman Sachs, by omitting material facts and making false statements, in the sale of security notes and bonds worth US$6.5 billion belonging to 1MDB subsidiaries.

On April 8 last year, Ng was found guilty by a court in the United States for conspiring to embezzle hundreds of millions of dollars from 1MDB and was subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison in New York.

In a separate matter, Razarudin said police would be transparent and fair in investigating the alleged beating of a detainee by two policemen at the Klang Selatan police headquarters.

He said when the investigations are completed, police will send the documents to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action.

In another development, Razarudin said police are currently gathering information on whether a syndicate in the country is involved in the case of 43 Malaysians who were recently rescued in Peru after they were believed to have been trafficked by a Macau scam syndicate.

Meanwhile, he said marine police seized various good worth RM186 million this year up to August involving 4,955 cases of smuggling of cigarettes, liquor, national treasures and drugs.

“The success of the operations carried out by marine police is also the result of cooperation with the Immigration Department, the Fisheries Department, the Customs Department, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, the Marine Department and the port authorities in an effort to combat contraband smuggling and prevent cross-border crimes in national waters,” he said.

He said the RM75 million Region 3 Marine Police headquarters in Tok Bali, Bachok, Kelantan is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in next January.

“In addition, the Forward Operation Base development project in Pulau Mabul, Semporna, Sabah worth RM45.5 million also under construction and expected to be completed in January 2024 while the Muar Operation Base development project in Muar, Johor worth RM40 million is under scope of work process,” he added. – Bernama, October 12, 2023.