NEW YORK, (Reuters) – A billionaire real estate developer from Macau accused by U.S. authorities of bribing a former United Nations General Assembly president yesterday won the right to be released on $50 million bail and live under house arrest in a luxury Manhattan apartment.
Ng Lap Seng, 68, had been in U.S. custody since his arrest on Sept. 19, after a federal judge previously determined his financial resources made the Chinese national too much of a flight risk.
But over the objections of a federal prosecutor, U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Fox in Manhattan accepted a proposal by Ng’s attorneys to allow him to live under house arrest at a $3.6 million apartment under 24-hour watch by two private security guards.
The $50 million bail must be secured by $20 million cash and the apartment, Fox said, adding Ng must also wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and bear the guards’ $200-an-hour cost.
Daniel Richenthal, the prosecutor, said the U.S. government may appeal. He argued it was “not appropriate for wealthy defendants to buy their freedom.”
