Jakarta court rules against seizure of luxury Equanimity yacht
In a blow to US probe into an alleged multibillion-dollar theft from an investment company from Malaysian state investment company, a Jakarta court said it to be unlawful. A Judge of South Jakarta District Court, Ratmoho ordered the return of the yacht to its owner.
On February 28, $250 million was seized from a yacht named Equanimity which was off Bali. This operation was conducted by Indonesian police and FBI. However, a legal challenge from the yacht owner stopped them from handing it over to the US. The decision has come nearly six-week after the incident happened.
The yacht case is connected to the Malaysian political scandal. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was alleged of laundering $ 700 million through his personal bank accounts. Although he denied any wrong doing but accepted of recieving donation from the Saudi royal family which he later returned them.
In July last year, a lawsuit was filed against the PM by the US Department of Justice seeking recovery of assets worth several hundred million dollars. They believe that yacht Equanimity was bought from those funds.
Equanimity is a lavish yacht which includes a helicopter landing pad, plunge pool, gymnasium and a cinema.
First published: 18 April 2018, 17:34 IST