The case filed by claimants to stop US authorities attempts to seize the superyacht Equanimity will be heard in Jakarta on April 2, according to Indonesian police.
"The initial court process would take about a week," Daniel Silitonga, the deputy director of economic and special crimes of Indonesia's Central Police Department, told Malaysiakinitoday.
Silitonga also confirmed that the claim was filed on behalf of the company Equanimity (Cayman) Ltd, the registered owner of the vessel, at the South Jakarta court where the case will be heard.
Malaysiakini reported yesterday that the claimants to the superyacht had sought to halt the seizure of the vessel in Indonesian courts.
According to court filings made by the US Department of Justice on Monday, the move was part of other efforts to prevent the Equanimity from being seized by US authorities.
In the interim, Silitonga said, the vessel will remain docked in Benoa Harbour in Denpasar, Bali, where it was first seized on Feb 28 at the request of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"In terms of further investigations, we are now waiting for outcome of the court proceedings," he added, referring to reports of a further probe by local police under Indonesia’s anti-money laundering laws.
Asked on the status of the ship's captain and its crew, Silitonga said all of them will remain on board the vessel pending the outcome of the court challenge.
Indonesian police had previously questioned the captain of the Equanimity, Rolf Sieboldt-Berry, over allegations that he had repeatedly turned off the vessel's automated identification system (AIS) to avoid detection.
The US$250 million (RM1 billion) superyacht linked to businessperson Low Taek Jho is among several assets being sought by the DOJ for allegedly being acquired using funds it says were misappropriated from Malaysian state fund 1MDB.
Low has denied any wrongdoing, while 1MDB insists that all its money is accounted for.
In particular, Low claimed that the allegations against him are politically motivated and the seizure perpetuates DOJ’s “pattern of global overreach.” -Mkini
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