Jho Low lambasts DoJ over seizure of luxury yacht

People are seen on deck after Indonesian officials boarded the luxury yacht 'Equanimity' at Benoa Bay in Bali on Wednesday. - AFP

PETALING JAYA: Businessman Low Taek Jho has criticised the US Department of Justice (DoJ) for not proving that any impropriety had occurred, following the seizure of a luxury yacht allegedly owned by him by Indonesian authorities.

In a statement on Wednesday (Feb 28), a spokesman for Low said the DoJ had stayed asset forfeiture proceedings and had not taken any steps to prove that any impropriety has occurred.

"It is therefore disappointing that, rather than reflecting on the deeply flawed and politically-motivated allegations, the DoJ is continuing with its pattern of global over reach -- all based on entirely unsupported claims of wrongdoing.

"We look forward to the Court being presented with the actual facts which demonstrate that the DoJ's case is completely without foundation," the spokesman said.

Earlier, the US$250mil (RM979mil) yacht "Equanimity" was seized on the island of Bali by Indonesian authorities as part of a multi-billion dollar corruption investigation linked to Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

1MDB is at the centre of money-laundering probes in at least six countries, including the United States, Switzerland and Singapore.

In August 2017, the DoJ asked for a stay on its civil lawsuits seeking to seize more than US$1.7bil (RM6.6bil) in assets allegedly bought with stolen 1MDB funds because it was conducting a related criminal probe.

Among the assets sought were a US$250mil (RM979mil) luxury yacht bought by Low, named as a key figure in the US lawsuits.