Leissner Was Key Goldman 1MDB Banker Not Ng, Defense Lawyer Says

(Bloomberg) -- Roger Ng's lawyer said Tim Leissner was the Goldman Sachs Group Inc. banker who built “critical” relationships in the 1MDB scandal, not his client.

Marc Agnifilo, the lawyer, said Thursday that was why his cross-examination of Leissner frequently touched on the banker's private life.

“Our premise is that all of the relationships he has, they're all strategic,” Agnifilo said. “Tim Leissner was instrumental not just in his capacity as an efficient Goldman Sachs employee, but in having personal connections with people.”

Ng is accused of conspiring with Leissner and Malaysian financier Jho Low in a scheme to bribe officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi and loot hundreds of millions of dollars out of 1MDB. Leissner, who pleaded guilty in 2018, is the government's star witness against Ng, who he described as maintaining Goldman's relationships with Ng and others.

But Ng argues Leissner, his former boss, led those relationships. Agnifilo on Thursday was arguing to introduce into evidence an email between Leissner and former Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd. Chief Executive Officer Rohana Rozhan, whose boss owned a $650 million stake in 1MDB. Rozhan was also Leissner's mistress.

“It is relevant in light of Mr. Leissner's testimony that it was Mr. Ng who had these ‘critical relationships' to help these deals move forward,” Agnifilo said. Leissner “was putting Roger in all of this when Leissner is the one who's using connections. Sometimes he uses intimacy,” the lawyer said.

The judge said she would consider whether to allow the evidence in and rule later on Thursday.