Translate
17 April 2018
Indonesian Court Rules Seizure of luxury yacht Equanimity linked to US 1MDB Investigation as invalid and legally baseless
Indonesian court rules seizure of Equanimity yacht to be invalid
Tuesday, 17 Apr 20188:37 PM MYT
JAKARTA: An Indonesian court on Tuesday (April 17) ruled that the seizure of a luxury yacht linked to a US investigation into scandal-ridden state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was invalid and without legal basis.
"We declare the confiscation by police as invalid and legally baseless," Justice Ratmoho told the hearing at the South Jakarta District Court.
On Feb 28, Indonesian police in Bali confiscated the 92-metre, Cayman Islands-registered Equanimity yacht off Bali as part of a joint operation with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Ratmoho said the seizure should have been carried out "under the reciprocal legal assistance framework as stipulated by the 2006 law, which gives the mandate to the law and human rights ministry," and not the police.
The US Department of Justice had earlier alleged that the Equanimity, valued at US$250mil (RM972.25 million), was among assets purchased by Malaysian banker Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, using funds siphoned from 1MDB.
The funds were allegedly laundered in several countries including the US. The department filed a civil case in June 2017 in a bid to recover the assets.
Ratmoho also said there has been no court ruling that the owner of the yacht committed a crime. "(If) there is no (proven) crime, there should not be any confiscation," he said.
The US court documents say that Low had no formal role at 1MDB, but had considerable decision-making influence.
But in early March, Malaysia's Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, citing an ongoing investigation, said Low never worked for 1MDB and he did not make any business decision for the company.
The Bali police had planned to hand over the confiscated yacht to the US authorities after the Feb 28 seizure, but the company claiming legal ownership of the yacht took the matter to court in Indonesia, citing legal flaws.
Andi Simangunsong, a lawyer representing Equanimity Cayman Ltd, told reporters earlier in April that the yacht was not linked to any criminal case in Indonesia, therefore the local police had no authority to seize the vessel.
He added that a reciprocal legal assistance arrangement between Indonesia and a foreign country is possible but it must go through the law and human rights ministry, not just through the police,
He argued that the handing over of the yacht to the US authorities by the police would constitute a breach of legal procedures. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/04/17/indonesian-court-rules-seizure-of-equanimity-yacht-as-invalid/#VbmlyXR3B5wksK4b.99
Popular Posts - Last 7 days
-
Dua buah helikopter milik Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) dilaporkan terhempas ketika menjalani raptai di Kem Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysi...
-
Abdul Rahman lepas jawatan dalam CIMB Group, terajui semula PNB Bernama April 16, 2024 Abdul Rahman merupakan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpu...
-
Dua helikopter TLDM bertembung semasa Latihan Lintas Hormat Sambutan Hari Ulang Tahun TLDM Ke-90. Pesawat HOM (M503-3) yang membawa tujuh or...
-
PM Anwar tubuh Jawatankuasa Penasihat Dasar Kepada Perdana Menteri - PMO Bernama 22/04/2024 PM Anwar tubuh Jawatankuasa Penasihat Dasar Ke...
-
TOP 100 AIRPORTS https://www.worldairportawards.com/worlds-top-100-airports-2024/
-
70 PCT OF PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT IN FOREST CITY SOLD - EXCO 20/04/2024 KULAI, April 20 (Bernama) -- Seventy per cent of the property develop...
-
KL20 Summit 2024 to attract high-quality investments - PM Bernama 22/04/2024 PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the summit marks a comprehens...
-
The Royal addendum order from the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which would allow Datuk Seri Najib Razak to go under house arrest, does exi...
Popular Posts - Last 30 days
-
Saudi says application for 1444 H umrah visa opens from today Bernama Julai 14, 2022 The Ministry of Haj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia has ann...
-
Kedah MB: ECK no longer part of Kulim airport project Bernama Julai 13, 2022 Muhammad Sanusi announced that the ECK Group of Companies (EC...
-
King presents appointment letters to four new envoys Bernama Julai 12, 2022 His Majesty presenting the letter of appointment to M'sian...
-
Wan Saiful confirms he is no longer PTPTN chairman Bernama Julai 12, 2022 Bersatu Information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan today confirm...
-
Following is BEST FBKL's selection of The Top Ramadan 2024 Buka Puasa Buffet's in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley. We hope that y...
-
Naz Empire's defamation lawsuit against Awal Ashaari to go to trial as mediation fails Bernama Julai 12, 2022 The defamation lawsuit f...
-
Paris court grants Malaysia's application to suspend claims by purported heirs of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II Bernama Julai 13, 2022 Dr Wa...
-
‘Alas pintu’ dengan gambar Kaabah sebenarnya sejadah mini - AEON BiG April 13, 2024 Susulan penularan gambar yang mendakwa penjualan ‘alas ...
-
Seven million Malaysians yet to take booster dose against COVID-19 - PM Bernama Julai 11, 2022 Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaako...
Blog Archive
-
►
2023
(3771)
- December (311)
- November (322)
- October (286)
- September (288)
- August (365)
- July (349)
- June (372)
- May (316)
- April (279)
- March (301)
- February (245)
- January (337)
-
►
2022
(4309)
- December (352)
- November (422)
- October (288)
- September (281)
- August (347)
- July (303)
- June (335)
- May (406)
- April (341)
- March (371)
- February (390)
- January (473)
-
►
2021
(9030)
- December (636)
- November (647)
- October (809)
- September (797)
- August (880)
- July (894)
- June (747)
- May (780)
- April (580)
- March (629)
- February (643)
- January (988)
-
►
2020
(6800)
- December (819)
- November (698)
- October (832)
- September (729)
- August (548)
- July (558)
- June (615)
- May (394)
- April (368)
- March (453)
- February (439)
- January (347)
-
►
2019
(4089)
- December (411)
- November (425)
- October (375)
- September (279)
- August (397)
- July (353)
- June (326)
- May (315)
- April (266)
- March (318)
- February (293)
- January (331)
-
▼
2018
(4100)
- December (305)
- November (304)
- October (357)
- September (352)
- August (420)
- July (442)
- June (366)
- May (412)
- April (343)
- March (275)
- February (233)
- January (291)
-
►
2017
(3888)
- December (268)
- November (293)
- October (352)
- September (309)
- August (356)
- July (300)
- June (319)
- May (354)
- April (316)
- March (335)
- February (306)
- January (380)
-
►
2016
(4563)
- December (331)
- November (328)
- October (378)
- September (415)
- August (404)
- July (380)
- June (310)
- May (370)
- April (430)
- March (484)
- February (355)
- January (378)
-
►
2015
(4588)
- December (402)
- November (392)
- October (393)
- September (375)
- August (450)
- July (392)
- June (456)
- May (407)
- April (408)
- March (374)
- February (262)
- January (277)