Indonesia hands over 1MDB-linked luxury yacht amid ongoing investigations
Indonesia has returned to Malaysia the luxury yacht “Equanimity” linked to the multi-billion dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on August 6, a move seen as bolstering a corruption probe involving ex-leader Najib Razak.
The Cayman Islands-registered Equanimity, believed to be worth some $250 million and belonging to fugitive Malaysian financier Jho Low who allegedly has links to Najib, was seized in February off the Indonesian tourist island of Bali.
Indonesian authorities detained the super-yacht following a request by the US Department of Justice, which is investigating alleged massive misappropriation involving the 1MDB state fund.
“We are happy since the Equanimity yacht has been handed over to us by Indonesia,” Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said in a Facebook post.
A spokesman for the prime minister’s office said the yacht would arrive in Port Klang, west of the capital Kuala Lumpur, within the next 48 hours. Mahathir also thanked Indonesian President Joko Widodo for his cooperation.
Mahathir further challenged those who say the luxurious yacht belongs to them to furnish documents that it was not bought with money stolen from 1MDB.
“Please show proof. We want to know where they got so much money to buy such an expensive yacht. If they can prove that it was not purchased with stolen money, they deserve to get it back,” he said.
Mahathir pointed out that an investigation by the US Department of Justice had shown that the yacht was purchased with money stolen from 1MBD. In a posted on his Twitter account, the Prime Minister said the yacht belonged to Malaysia as it was purchased with Malaysian money that was stolen by “certain quarters”.
Indonesia has returned to Malaysia the luxury yacht “Equanimity” linked to the multi-billion dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on August 6, a move seen as bolstering a corruption probe involving ex-leader Najib Razak. The Cayman Islands-registered Equanimity, believed to be worth some $250 million and belonging to fugitive Malaysian financier Jho Low who allegedly has links to Najib, was seized in February off the Indonesian tourist island of Bali. Indonesian authorities detained the super-yacht following a request by the US Department of Justice, which is investigating alleged massive misappropriation involving the 1MDB...
Indonesia has returned to Malaysia the luxury yacht “Equanimity” linked to the multi-billion dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on August 6, a move seen as bolstering a corruption probe involving ex-leader Najib Razak.
The Cayman Islands-registered Equanimity, believed to be worth some $250 million and belonging to fugitive Malaysian financier Jho Low who allegedly has links to Najib, was seized in February off the Indonesian tourist island of Bali.
Indonesian authorities detained the super-yacht following a request by the US Department of Justice, which is investigating alleged massive misappropriation involving the 1MDB state fund.
“We are happy since the Equanimity yacht has been handed over to us by Indonesia,” Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said in a Facebook post.
A spokesman for the prime minister’s office said the yacht would arrive in Port Klang, west of the capital Kuala Lumpur, within the next 48 hours. Mahathir also thanked Indonesian President Joko Widodo for his cooperation.
Mahathir further challenged those who say the luxurious yacht belongs to them to furnish documents that it was not bought with money stolen from 1MDB.
“Please show proof. We want to know where they got so much money to buy such an expensive yacht. If they can prove that it was not purchased with stolen money, they deserve to get it back,” he said.
Mahathir pointed out that an investigation by the US Department of Justice had shown that the yacht was purchased with money stolen from 1MBD. In a posted on his Twitter account, the Prime Minister said the yacht belonged to Malaysia as it was purchased with Malaysian money that was stolen by “certain quarters”.
