1MDB scandal: Malaysia’s criminal case against Goldman Sachs delayed until September after Mahathir Mohamad dismisses US$241 million compensation as ‘peanuts’
- The US Department of Justice estimates US$4.5 billion was misappropriated from state fund 1MDB between 2009 and 2014
- Malaysian prosecutors had previously issued summonses to three Goldman Sachs units, requiring them to respond to criminal charges
Malaysian prosecutors had previously issued summonses to three Goldman Sachs units in the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore, requiring them to respond to criminal charges filed against them over bond issues that the bank had arranged for state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Explained: Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal
The US Department of Justice estimates US$4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB between 2009 and 2014, including some of the funds that Goldman Sachs helped raise.
Goldman Sachs has consistently denied wrongdoing.
On Monday, a lawyer for the bank said Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLC, based in Hong Kong, had only received its summons in the past week, while another summons issued to the bank’s Singapore unit was incomplete, with just three out of four charges served.
“Under such circumstances, we ask for another date … so that we will have enough time to take instructions from our clients,” lawyer Hisyam Teh told the court.
The court then fixed September 30 for case management.
Last December, Malaysian prosecutors had filed charges against the three Goldman Sachs units for misleading investors by making untrue statements and omitting key facts in relation to bond issues that the bank had arranged for 1MDB.
Stolen 1MDB funds followed ‘clear trajectory’ from Najib, authorities say
The bank says certain members of the former Malaysian government and 1MDB lied to it about how proceeds from the bond sales would be used.
Malaysia has said it was seeking up to US$7.5 billion in reparations from Goldman over its dealings with 1MDB, set up in 2009 by then prime minister Najib Razak.
Najib, who lost a general election last year, is facing 42 criminal charges related to losses at 1MDB and other state entities. He has pleaded not guilty.
