SELANGOR: The Malaysian government is now eyeing to bring back a private jet belonging to fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, said Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at an event on Sunday (Aug 12).
When asked about reports that Putrajaya is bringing back the jet, Dr Mahathir said: "Yes, I think so. We have to bring it back."
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But when he was questioned about the discussion to bring the private jet back to the country, the prime minister said: "I don't know somebody else is doing it."
This latest development comes after superyacht Equanimity, widely reported to be linked to Jho Low, arrived in Malaysia on Aug 7 after it was handed over by Indonesian authorities. The superyacht is currently berthed at Port Klang.
Seized luxury yacht Equanimity, belonging to fugitive Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, is brought to Boustead Cruise Terminal in Port Klang, Malaysia August 7, 2018. REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin
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It was reported that the Bombardier Global 5000 aircraft linked to Jho Low was part of some US$1 billion in assets allegedly acquired with funds misappropriated from state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
According to reports, the private jet was grounded in Singapore more than a year ago.
Low is wanted by Malaysian authorities as part of investigations into the scandal-plagued 1MDB state fund founded by former prime minister Najib Razak. Najib has been charged with criminal breach of trust and abuse of power.
Dr Mahathir stressed that the government was trying to get back all the money that was stolen from the country.
"We know who has it but of course we do not know where they are. And the need for us to access the money depends on our proving that it is our money," he said.
In a statement issued on Sunday through his lawyer, Low said: "Mahathir has contended that the US agreed Malaysia can keep the boat. But the US has said the opposite in court filings. Mahathir is not complying with either US or Indonesian court rulings; he is ignoring the law solely for political purposes.
"Mahathir’s illegal taking of the yacht makes it impossible to sell it for fair value because of the still-open legal questions and the legal repercussions for any new owner."
Low added that prime minister Mahathir's government has "not explained that, while the US has stated in court filings it had no knowledge of the seizure of the Equanimity, the Malaysian Attorney General has said it was done after 'sensitive and delicate negotiations with the United States.'"
He alleged that "it is clear that the Malaysian government is lying and putting words into the US’s mouth."
Asked to comment on Jho Low's statement, Dr Mahathir said: " I am very proud that I can put words into the US government."
"I must be greater than (Donald) Trump. Well you can ask the US authority whether I put the words. I typed out the thing properly and shove it down his throat. But he (Jho Low) should accept that," he added.
The businessman linked to the Equanimity yacht insists the seizure is illegal.
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PETALING JAYA: Businessman Low Taek Jho has again condemned Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the seizure of the Equanimity, a day after the prime minister visited the luxury yacht and said the government wanted to sell it off as soon as possible as its value could depreciate.
But Low, in a statement sent to FMT through his spokesman, said the handover of the yacht to Malaysian authorities had brought out in the open legal repercussions for the buyer.
He again insisted that the seizure was illegal, adding that Malaysia was “putting words into the mouth” of the US authorities by saying the yacht’s arrival in Malaysia last week was after negotiations with the Americans.
“These repeated misstatements by Malaysia are embarrassing the US, which has stressed it has no involvement in the illegal seizure of the vessel and will update the US court on Aug 17,” Low said.
“It is clear that the Mahathir regime has no interest in a fair and just legal process. His hijacking of established and long-running legal proceedings in other countries involving those governments (such as the United States) in the Equanimity matter prove this beyond any doubt.”
The US$250 million Equanimity has been held at a cruise centre in Port Klang since its arrival in Malaysian waters on Tuesday.
It is at the centre of US investigations into state investment firm 1MDB, and linked to Low, who allegedly acquired the yacht with funds plundered from 1MDB.
Indonesian police seized the yacht at the request of the US authorities and handed it over to Malaysia after a recent visit by Mahathir to the country.
Low condemned what he called a “trial by media” by Mahathir’s administration.
“Mahathir’s trial by media has made it impossible for this matter to be fairly adjudicated, especially in his regime, which manipulates the Malaysian system as in the 1988 judicial crisis,” the statement read, referring to the sacking of senior judges during Mahathir’s first term in office.
“The allegations have ricocheted around the world for more than a year, repeated thousands of times. Thus, Mr. Low has been declared guilty by the Mahathir regime before a single piece of evidence has been produced in US courts.”
PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has once again showed that the proper legal process has no place in his regime, said a spokesman for fugitive businessman Jho Taek Low, also known as Jho Low.
On Saturday (Aug 11), the Prime Minister said the RM1bil Equanimity would be sold “ASAP” to the highest bidder to recover stolen money used to buy the superyacht.
Dr Mahathir said the US Department of Justice (DoJ) had assured Malaysia that the yacht belongs to Jho Low, bought using money stolen from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Responding to the Prime Minister’s remarks that the US had proven its case against Equanimity (Cayman) Ltd, the spokesman said that Jho Low had been declared guilty by Dr Mahathir's regime before a single piece of evidence has been produced in US courts.
According to Jho Low's spokesman, the US has not proven anything.
"The truth is this: the US filed unproven allegations in a civil forfeiture complaint more than a year ago - then halted the proceedings before any party had any meaningful chance to respond.
“The allegations have ricocheted around the world for more than a year, repeated thousands of times,” said the spokesman in a statement released through his attorneys on Sunday (Aug 12).
The Equanimity is currently docked at the Boustead Cruise Centre in Pulau Indah, Port Klang.
The spokesman, however, pointed out that the legal team appointed by Malaysia's Attorney General said it could take up to nine months to identify the owner of Equanimity through the Malaysian court process.
“Mahathir now seems to be saying there will be no such process. Mahathir has contended that the US agreed Malaysia can keep the boat.
"But the US has said the opposite in court filings. Mahathir is not complying with either US or Indonesian court rulings; he is ignoring the law solely for political purposes,” said the spokesman.
The spokesman added that the illegal taking of the yacht makes it impossible to sell it for fair value because of the still-open legal questions and the legal repercussions for any new owner.
The spokesman claimed that Dr Mahathir’s regime has yet to explain the fact that while the US had stated in court filings it had no knowledge of the seizure of Equanimity, the Malaysian Attorney General said it was done after “sensitive and delicate negotiations with the US.”
“It is clear that the Malaysian government is lying and putting words into the US’ mouth.
"These repeated misstatements by Malaysia are embarrassing the US, which has stressed it has no involvement in the illegal seizure of the vessel and will update the US court on Aug 17,” said the spokesman.
SERDANG (Bernama): The Government is now eyeing a private jet belonging to fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, currently reported to be in Singapore, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
When asked about reports that Putrajaya is planning to bring back the jet, the Prime Minister said: “Yes, I think so. We have to bring it back.”
He said this to reporters after visiting an art exhibition "Tun M: A Forever Legacy" at the Perdana University here on Sunday.
According to media reports, the private jet was impounded by Singaporean authorities in 2017 and grounded at the Seletar Airport.
It was also reported that the impounded Bombardier Global 5000 aircraft was part of some US$1bil in assets allegedly acquired with funds misappropriated from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
Asked about discussions to bring the private jet back to the country, Dr Mahathir said: “I don’t know, somebody else is doing it.”
Dr Mahathir stressed that the Government was trying to get back all the money that had been stolen from the country.
“We know who has it but of course, we do not know where they are. And the need for us to access the money depends on our proving that it is our money,” he said.
Superyacht Equanimity, widely reported to be linked to Jho Low, had arrived in Malaysia on Aug 7 after being handed over by Indonesian authorities.
The RM1bil superyacht is currently berthed at Port Klang.
Asked to comment on Jho Low's statement through his spokesman alleging that Malaysia was “putting words into the mouth” of the US authorities by saying the yacht's arrival in Malaysia was after negotiations with the Americans, Dr Mahathir said: " I am very proud that I can put words into the US government."
"I must be greater than (Donald) Trump. Well you can ask the US authorities whether I put the words. I typed out the thing properly and shove it down his throat. But he (Jho Low) should accept that," he added. - Bernama
