The seized superyacht Equanimity is expected to arrive in Port Klang as early as 10.45am tomorrow.
A maritime source said that the vessel’s earliest arrival in the morning was based on the vessel’s time of departure.
“However, it is also highly likely that the vessel may arrive by noon as it has to slow down and navigate its way through a small part of the Straits of Singapore and busy Straits of Malacca.
“On average, the entire journey can take anything from 18 hours to 20 hours based on its speed of 15 to 20 knots,” said the source to Malay Mail today.
Both the Malacca and Singapore Straits are among the world’s busiest shipping lanes, and the congested maritime traffic in the narrow passageway makes it difficult for vessels to navigate.
The Star Online reported earlier today that the Equanimity received its port clearance from the Batam Marine Department at 2.30pm, indicating that its next port of call is Port Klang, and left at 4.45pm.
It is learnt that a Bukit Aman police team from the Anti-Money Laundering Unit under the Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) will receive the superyacht as it will be seized for investigation under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act (Amla) 2001.
Earlier today, Malay Mail reported Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as thanking the Indonesian government for its cooperation in handing over the million-dollar yacht to Malaysian authorities.
“We believe that the yacht belongs to Malaysians as it was bought by money stolen by 1MDB… Therefore, those who want to claim the yacht, they must provide some proof or receipt that they bought the yacht using their own money,” he said in a Facebook post.
“I am happy that the yacht was handed over to Malaysia by the Indonesian government.
“I thank the Indonesian government and its president, Joko Widodo, for the strong cooperation,” Dr Mahathir added.
Low’s lawyers have said that the Malaysian government’s seizure of the yacht Equanimity is illegal, and that the confiscation of the luxury vessel — which they said is owned by Equanimity (Cayman) Ltd — broke an Indonesian law and court decision, besides breaching recent United States court orders.
International newswire Reuters reported on Saturday that Indonesia has agreed to hand over Equanimity to Malaysia, but Indonesian police did not specify when.
Indonesia impounded the yacht in February in Bali at the request of US authorities in their corruption investigation of Malaysian state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
The DoJ’s civil lawsuits, which claim that US$4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB by high-level officials of the firm and their associates, have reportedly placed Low as a central figure in the 1MDB scandal. The Malaysian financier allegedly used money diverted from 1MDB to purchase Equanimity, which is registered in the Cayman Islands. – MALAY MAIL
Finance Ministry to auction off Jho Low’s yacht
KUALA LUMPUR — Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said today he will auction off Jho Low’s yacht Equanimity to recover as much money as possible from the luxury boat worth US$250 million (RM1.02 billion).
He said selling off the yacht belonging to the fugitive financier, who is allegedly a central figure in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal, would be the best option as the cost to maintain its docking would be high.
“As the Finance Ministry, we want to realise this asset so we can at least get something back.
“Leaving it there every day means we would have to pay the high maintenance cost. It would also just deteriorate, diminish and depreciate in value.
“If we sell it off, it can benefit Malaysians. It costs RM1 billion but I don’t know how much we can get back,” he told a press conference at Dewan Rakyat lobby here today. – MALAY MAIL
MALAY MAIL
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