Jho Low should just keep quiet, says lawyer

Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla hits back at controversial businessman for accusing the prime minister of lying over the seizure of the Equanimity.

Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla says the US government and the DoJ have not lodged any protest over the seizure of Equanimity.

PETALING JAYA: Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla today hit back at Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, after the controversial businessman accused the prime minister of lying over the seizure of the RM1 billion superyacht Equanimity.

Haniff said to date, no protests had been lodged by the United States government, its Department of Justice (DoJ), or the US Embassy against the governments of Malaysia and Indonesia.

There is also no objection from the California Central District Court, he said.

Haniff, who is representing Dr Mahathir Mohamad in a 1MDB-related court case involving former prime minister Najib Razak, also cited a court filing by the DoJ at a California court yesterday as evidence that the US had no objections towards Indonesia’s move to release custody of the Equanimity to Malaysian authorities instead of to the US.

“Jho Low should just keep quiet and remain in hiding instead of making malicious accusations against Mahathir and the attorney-general.”

The fugitive businessman yesterday cited a recent court filing by the US DoJ to support his claim that Putrajaya had been lying when it said the US was involved in and had supported Malaysia’s seizure of the Equanimity.

Low said the DoJ’s report to the California federal court showed that the US had planned to bring the yacht to the country, and had spent considerable sums on a crew and fuel for the upkeep of the vessel.

“We are not surprised to see the US DoJ confirmed that 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,” Low said in a statement issued by his spokesman.

Low, who is at the centre of investigations in Malaysia and the US over allegations of embezzling billions of dollars from 1MDB, had from the start maintained that the move to seize the Equanimity was illegal and politically motivated.

The Equanimity, which has been held at Port Klang since its arrival in Malaysian waters on Aug 7, is believed to have been acquired with funds allegedly plundered from 1MDB.

Indonesian police seized the yacht at the request of the US authorities and handed it over to Malaysia after a recent visit by Mahathir to the country.

Low, however, said Mahathir had “stolen it (the Equanimity) right out from under them (the US) and flat-out lied about it”. - FMT