'Equanimity can still be used as evidence in 1MDB court cases'

The superyacht Equanimity can still be used as evidence in court cases involving 1MDB despite being sold off, de facto Deputy Law Minister Hanipa Maidin said today.

"Even if the Equanimity has been sold, the court can subpoena the buyer to attend court proceedings with documents related to the vessel as evidence.

"There are mechanisms which prosecutors can use to do that. 

"Just because the yacht has been sold, it doesn't mean it cannot be used as evidence if need be," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Hanipa also explained that documents pertaining to the yacht can also be used as evidence.

"It all depends on the agreement between the prosecutor and the defense team."

The deputy minister responding to a question on the vessel – purchased by fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho with monies allegedly misappropriated from 1MDB – being sold today despite its possible inclusion as court evidence.

Earlier today, Attorney-General Tommy Thomas called the sale of the Equanimity to Genting Malaysia Bhd for US$126 million (RM514.2 million) "very satisfactory, and historic."

The sale price, Thomas said, was the best offer received since the yacht was put on sale five months ago. 

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng further said that US$126 million was the "best price" Putrajaya could get based on an open tender.

Low, however, termed the "bargain basement" sale price a reflection of how Putrajaya was willing to "trash" the vessel's value to get at its political opponents. - Mkini