KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 31): The High Court has fixed Dec 16 as the next case mention date for the summons against three Goldman Sachs entities in the latter's alleged conduct of misleading investors in the issuance of three 1MDB bonds.

Subsequent to the first case mention before High Court Deputy Registrar Catherine Nicholas, deputy public prosecutor Aaron Paul Chelliah told theedgemarkets.com that the new case mention date was to ensure sufficient time for the defence to submit their affidavit on the prosecution's application.

Goldman Sachs is represented by counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik.

The case is in the midst of being transferred from the Magistrates Court to the High Court.

Malaysia is the first country in the world to prosecute Goldman Sachs as a company, filing charges in December last year against Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLC, Goldman Sachs International (UK) and Goldman Sachs (Singapore), and is seeking US$2.7 billion in fines.

The government alleges that Goldman Sachs misled investors in the issue of the three 1MDB bonds. It is also demanding the return of US$600 million that the investment bank pocketed as fees.

Putrajaya also separately filed summons against 17 current and former Goldman executives, whom it accuses of misleading investors by making false statements and omitting key facts in relation to the 1MDB-related bond issues worth US$6.5 billion.

Since September, the prosecution has indicated that it intends to transfer the case from the lower court to the High Court.