TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Police Spokesman Insp. Gen. Setyo Wasisto said that police were not aware that the seizure of Equanimity luxury yacht in Bali was related to the 1MDB scandal. He said it was conducted upon the FBI’s request.
“The police do not know that the yacht was linked to a legal matter in Malaysia,” said Setyo Wasisto yesterday, March 15.
As it turns out, the luxury yacht’s owner was implicated in a scandal of the misuse of funds from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), an investment agency owned by the Malaysian government.
Read: 1MDB Scandal: Going Smoothly Outside Stalled Within
and: 1MDB Scandal: Equanimity`s Rough Sailing
He then said that the luxury yacht entered Indonesian waters for recreational activities and was identified to fly the Cayman Island’s flag. The yacht is now anchored around five kilometers from the eastern coast of Badung, Bali, since its seizure on February 28.
Setyo further said that police strongly denies the allegations of several people claiming that the yacht was seized due to the 1 billion Malaysian ringgit kept inside the yacht.
“There were many authority personnel during the search; FBI, Police, and people in the yacht were there,” said Setyo.
Tempo Magazine published an investigation on the Equanimity yacht that was suspected to be used to launder money by businessman Jho Low, a man that is said to be a close friend of Riza Aziz, stepson of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.
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