The latest filing by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is proof that Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the government has been lying in regards to the country's possession of the superyacht Equanimity, fugitive businessman Jho Low claims.
As per his habit of sending statements via his lawyers, the financier, whose real name is Low Taek Jho, claimed the latest filing by the US authority on this, this morning, confirmed Mahathir and attorney-general Tommy Thomas "have been lying all along".
"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.
"Today’s court filing by the DOJ directly contradicts the false statements of the corrupt Mahathir regime, which stated without equivocation that the United States was involved with, and agreed to, Mahathir’s illegal seizure of this asset," the statement, sent via Australia-based public relations firm Wells Haslem Mayhew, read.
This came after the Malaysian government repeatedly said it had worked with the US and Indonesian authorities to reclaim the luxury vessel from the latter, and that both countries acknowledged Malaysia's rightful possession of the boat.
The DOJ had claimed that the ship was purchased by Low using money alleged misappropriated from 1MDB.
Low has, meanwhile, consistently denied any wrongdoing in regard to the fund despite being wanted by authorities from Malaysia, Singapore and other countries to facilitate in their respective probes.
In his statement today, Low said the filing by the DOJ, sighted by Malaysiakini, showed Malaysia "stole" the ship and "flat-out lied about it".
He said Mahathir's government had once more embarrassed the US with its counter claims, adding, "In reality, his desperate attempt to justify his actions makes it impossible to sell the asset for fair value because of still-open legal questions as to actual ownership, and the legal repercussions that might be faced by any new owner."
The DOJ, in its filing this morning, reiterated that it had no role in the transfer of the Equanimity to Malaysian authorities.
"Other than the actions outlined in Paragraph 7 above - both of which were necessary and appropriate to maintain the safety and security of the yacht - the US government took no part in Indonesia's transferring the yacht to Malaysia," it said in its filing.
In Paragraph 7, the DOJ said it had told the US government-appointed crew aboard the Equanimity to follow the instructions of Indonesian authorities when their management company asked the US government whether it should do so, as the yacht was being sailed to Batam island to facilitate the transfer.
In the same paragraph, the DOJ also said it made sure to maintain contract with Wilson Yacht Management (WYM) until Aug 7, when it learned that Malaysian authorities were taking over the yacht's upkeep, so that it would never be left uncrewed and unattended.
The Equanimity is currently under the custody of the Kuala Lumpur High Court, and 1MDB has filed a suit claiming ownership of the vessel.
The Malaysian government intends to sell the vessel once 1MDB obtains the court's declaration that the Finance ministry fund is the yacht's owner.
