Mahathir: US did not protest seizure of ‘Equanimity’

PETALING JAYA: While fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, claimed that Malaysia’s seizure of Equanimity was against a US court order, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the US government did not protest when told of the intention to impound the superyacht.

Through a spokesman, Low cited a court filing by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) to support his claim that the Malaysian government had been lying when it said the United States supported its seizure of the yacht.

The vessel is linked to Low and allegedly bought with stolen money from 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Low’s spokesman said the seizure violated both a US court order and a decision of the Indonesian court.

“We are not surprised to see the DoJ confirm that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his Attorney General have been lying all along; Malaysia’s illegal seizure of the Equanimity was without US knowledge or consent.

“Today’s (Friday) court filing by the DoJ directly contradicts the false statements of the corrupt Mahathir regime, which stated without equivocation that the United States was involved with, and agreed to, Mahathir’s illegal seizure of this asset,” the spokesman said.

According to the DoJ filing dated Aug 17, it had planned to bring the asset to the United States.

Low’s spokesman said Dr Maha­thir had “stolen it (Equanimity) right from under them (the US) and flat out lied about it”.

“Based on the DoJ’s filing, these are all lies. In reality, his desperate attempt to justify his actions makes it impossible to sell the asset for fair value because of still open legal questions as to actual ownership, and the legal repercussions that might be faced by any new owner,” the spokesman added.

On Aug 11, the Prime Minister said the RM1bil Equanimity would be sold to the highest bidder.

Equanimity has been docked at the Boustead Cruise Centre in Pulau Indah, Port Klang, after it was handed over to Malaysian authorities by Indonesia on Aug 7.