The latest filing by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is proof that Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the government has been lying in regards to the country's possession of the superyacht Equanimity, fugitive businessman Jho Low claims.
As per his habit of sending statements via his lawyers, the financier, whose real name is Low Taek Jho, claimed the latest filing by the US authority on this, this morning, confirmed Mahathir and attorney-general Tommy Thomas "have been lying all along".
"Dr Mahathir and his attorney-general have been lying all along: Malaysia’s illegal seizure of the Equanimity was without US knowledge or consent and in violation of both a US court order and a decision of the Indonesian court.
"Today’s 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 statement, sent via Australia-based public relations firm Wells Haslem Mayhew, read.
This came after the Malaysian government repeatedly said it had worked with the US and Indonesian authorities to reclaim the luxury vessel from the latter, and that both countries acknowledged Malaysia's rightful possession of the boat.
The DOJ had claimed that the ship was purchased by Low using money alleged misappropriated from 1MDB.
Low has, meanwhile, consistently denied any wrongdoing in regard to the fund despite being wanted by authorities from Malaysia, Singapore and other countries to facilitate in their respective probes.
In his statement today, Low said the filing by the DOJ, sighted by Malaysiakini, showed Malaysia "stole" the ship and "flat-out lied about it".
He said Mahathir's government had once more embarrassed the US with its counter claims, adding, "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."
[More to follow] -Mkini
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