The cited record supports the material proposition.
The US Department of Justice said in October 2020 that Goldman Sachs conspired to pay more than US$1.6 billion in bribes in connection with 1MDB bond deals.
- Claim made by
- US Department of Justice, regulator statement
- Published
- 22 October 2020
- Evidence score
- 91 How it was scored
- Last reviewed
- 25 October 2026
Why this label
The DOJ release states that Goldman conspired to violate the FCPA through a scheme to pay more than US$1.6 billion in bribesS1. It says the parent entered a deferred prosecution agreement and that GS Malaysia pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of New York. The plea is an admission by the Malaysian unit. The DPA is an agreement, not a conviction of the parent. Goldman's June 2026 quarterly filing says GS Malaysia was sentenced on 9 June 2021 and the charge against the parent was dismissed on 6 May 2024 in line with the agreementS4. We did not read the court docket for the dismissal, so that step rests on the company filing.
Current procedural position
GS Malaysia pleaded guilty and was sentenced on 9 June 2021. The charge against The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. was dismissed on 6 May 2024 under the three-year DPA, per Goldman's 10-QS1S4.
Record supporting the assessment
Goldman conspired with others to violate the FCPA by engaging in a scheme to pay more than $1.6 billion in bribes
GS Malaysia pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
was later dismissed on May 6, 2024 in accordance with the agreement.
GS Malaysia pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA, and was sentenced on June 9, 2021.
Conflicting or limiting record
No record located that conflicts with this assessment.
Evidence score: 91 of 100
The score grades how well the record establishes this assessment. It is not a score of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.. Score = source authority + directness + corroboration + procedural accuracy + currency + reproducibility.
| Component | Points | Max | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source authorityIs the source competent to establish the proposition? | 29 | 30 | A DOJ release on a plea and DPA is a competent record. |
| DirectnessDoes the source state the proposition or only discuss adjacent facts? | 19 | 20 | The release states the bribe figure directly. |
| CorroborationDo independent records support the same material point? | 11 | 15 | Goldman's own SEC filing confirms the plea, the sentence and the DPA. |
| Procedural accuracyDoes the record settle the procedural state the claim describes? | 14 | 15 | The plea and sentence are final and the parent charge was dismissed, per the company filing. |
| CurrencyHas the record been checked against later developments? | 9 | 10 | Checked against Goldman's 10-Q for the quarter to 30 June 2026. |
| ReproducibilityCan a reader locate the passage and repeat the assessment? | 9 | 10 | Both records are public. |
| Total | 91 | 100 |
Timeline
Related cases
- United States v. Goldman Sachs (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.US District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Criminal. Not published on the release we read.Stage: Final. GS Malaysia sentenced 9 June 2021 and the charge against the parent dismissed 6 May 2024 under the DPA, per GoldmanS4
Revision history
- Assessment first published with label Supported.
Have a record that changes this assessment? See corrections and responses.
Sources
- S1Tier A Goldman Sachs Charged in Foreign Bribery Case and Agrees to Pay Over $2.9 BillionUS Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. Regulator press release. 22 October 2020.Supports the DPA, the GS Malaysia plea, the bribe figure and the US$2.9 billion total. It does not state the DPA term or its later dismissal.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S4Tier B Legal ProceedingsThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (Form 10-Q filed with the SEC). Company filing. 3 August 2026.Note 27 of the 10-Q for the quarter to 30 June 2026. Supports the 2020 settlement agreement date, the GS Malaysia sentence and the May 2024 dismissal. Company account only.
Other claims about The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
- Outdated75Goldman's July 2020 agreement with the Government of Malaysia settled their 1MDB dispute on terms of a US$2.5 billion payment and a US$1.4 billion asset recovery guarantee.Company statement, 24 July 20204 records citedCorporate status
- Unresolved52Malaysia's 1MDB Taskforce said Malaysia is entitled to a US$250 million interim payment from Goldman under the 2020 settlement.Press report, Date not shown on page4 records citedCorporate status