Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein may be last witness to testify at Gupta trial

New York, May 31 (ANI): The CEO of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Lloyd Blankfein is expected to testify in the insider-trading trial of Indian American ex-Goldman director Rajat Gupta.

Assistant US Attorney Reed Brodsky said in a Manhattan federal court on Thursday that Blankfein is one of the last witnesses expected to be called at Gupta's trial, which began May 21.

Prosecutors are trying to call at least nine additional witnesses in the case, while Gupta's lawyer, Gary Naftalis, said he expects to call more than a dozen witnesses as part of the defense case.

According to the New York Post, prosecutors alleged that Gupta leaked confidential corporate information while serving on the boards of Goldman and Procter and Gamble Co. to hedge-fund manager Raj Rajaratnam, his onetime friend and business partner, to which Gupta pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and securities fraud charges.

US District judge Jed Rakoff, who is presiding over the case, said he expects the government will rest its case by June 6. (ANI)