SEE ROSMAH – EVEN JHO LOW’S MUM AGREES TO RETURN 1MDB-LINKED DIAMOND RING & EARRINGS – YET NAJIB & WIFE ‘PRETEND DON’T KNOW’: DOJ STRIKES DEAL WITH JHO LOW – CUSTODIAN TO RETURN JEWELLERY AS ‘ADMISSION OF WRONGDOING OR LIABILITY’

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has stated that the “custodian” of a set of 1MDB-link diamond jewellery, purportedly given to Jho Low’s mother, Evelyn Goh Gaik Ewe, has agreed to return them to the US.

In its latest court filing, dated May 1, sighted by Malaysiakini, the DOJ stated that it has reached an agreement with the counsel for said custodian for the return of a pair of diamond earrings with a matching diamond ring worth US$1.7 million.

However, the department does not name the custodian in question.

“This transfer of the defendant’s assets shall not be construed as an admission of wrongdoing or liability on the part of the current custodian or any other party.

“Once the government is in possession, custody, or control of the defendant’s assets pursuant to Supplemental Rule G of the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions, the government will move forward towards default of the defendant assets,” the filing read.

Goh believed to be residing in Thailand

It was reported, in November last year, that the DOJ planned to seek the cooperation of Thai authorities to serve a warrant for the jewellery as Goh is believed to be residing in Thailand.

On June 15, 2017, the DOJ filed civil forfeiture suits on a range of assets believed to have been purchased using proceeds of funds misappropriated from 1MDB and funnelled through the US financial system, including the jewellery.

It alleged Low had used money diverted from 1MDB’s 2012 bond issuances to purchase the jewellery for US$1,695,475 from the New York-based jeweller Lorraine Schwartz Inc.

Low was invoiced for the jewellery on Nov 28, 2012, which included flawless Type 2A diamonds of 7.53 carats, 3.05 carats, and 3.08 carats. Goh supposedly picked up the jewellery in Hong Kong.

In its Nov 2 filing, the DOJ said it had posted a notice of its civil forfeiture suit against the jewellery, online on June 21. In addition, it sent notices to potential claimants Goh and Lorraine Schwartz through their lawyers on Aug 4, 2017.

However, in each case the deadline to file counter-claims on the DOJ’s claim on the jewellery lapsed without any counter-claims being filed.

Low has been charged in absentia, in both the US and Malaysia, over allegations of money laundering in relation to the 1MDB scandal. He has maintained his innocence.

MKINI