Mahathir regime has no interest in a fair and just legal process, says spokesman for Jho Low

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 12): Fugitive financier Jho Low has fired back via a spokesperson in response to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the US has proven its case against Equanimity (Cayman) Ltd.

In news reports yesterday, Dr Mahathir said the US Department of Justice told the Malaysian authorities that the yacht Equanimity (pictured) belongs to Jho Low, bought using money stolen from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

"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.

"Thus, Mr Low has been declared guilty by the Mahathir regime before a single piece of evidence has been produced in US courts" said the press release issued today by the spokesperson.

Dr Mahathir and an entourage which included Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong, Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Jen Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, inspected the Equanimity yesterday.

The luxury yacht is currently docked at docked at the Boustead Cruise Centre in Pulau Indah, Port Klang since it was handed over by the Indonesian government last week.

The spokesman also said that: "Mr. Mahathir once again shows proper legal process has no place in the Mahathir regime...  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."

"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," the spokesperson went on.

The statement also said that Putrajaya is lying: "And the Mahathir regime still 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'. It is clear that the Malaysian government is lying and putting words into the US’s mouth.

"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."

Speaking to the media after his visit of the vessel yesterday, Dr Mahathir said that he dared Jho Low to come and stake his claim over the ship’s ownership.

"(The) only person who wants to take legal action is Low. For him to take legal action, he can come and prove to us that it (the yacht) belongs to him.

"It (the yacht) is very costly, so we want to know where he got the money (to buy it), and when we trace the money, eventually we will find that the money is from 1MDB," the Malaysiakini news portal reported Dr Mahathir saying.