Seizure of Equanimity made according to legal procedures – Liew

KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong told the Dewan Rakat yesterday that the seizure of the super yacht Equanimity was made according to Malaysian procedures and laws.

He refuted claims that the action by the government in sealing the luxury yacht was illegal.

He said the yacht was handed over to Malaysia by Indonesia as agreed to by the United States government.

“The detention of Equanimity was made according to Malaysian legal procedures and the claim is baseless.

“On a request by the Malaysian government, the Kuala Lumpur High Court a warrant of detention or arrest warrant against Equanimity which was served when the ship arrived at Port Klang on Aug 7, 2018,” he said in response to a question by Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (BNPengerang) during the Ministers' Question time in Parliament yesterday.

Azalina had sought clarification from the government on claims by businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low's lawyer that the action by the Malaysian government in sealing Equanimity was unlawful.

Liew said the government was still waiting for Jho Low, who was said to have bought the ship using funds siphoned from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), to claim it.

Last Sunday, a news portal reported that Jho Low had accused Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad of "hijacking" the legal proceedings of other countries in order to acquire the 1MDB-linked superyacht Equanimity .

In a statement from Low's spokesperson, through his lawyers, the controversial financier insisted that Malaysia's seizure of the superyacht Equanimity was illegal. Bernama