(Apr 4): The US$250 million ($327.7 million) yacht the Justice Department claims Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho bought with stolen government funds can be sailed from Indonesia to the US, a judge said.
See: Indonesia govt seizes Jho Low's US$260 mil superyacht in Bali
On Tuesday, US District Judge Dale Fischer in Los Angeles denied the request by the trusts that hold title to the "Equanimity" to keep it anchored in Bali while they’re challenging the 300-foot vessel’s seizure.
See: 1MDB mastermind Jho Low rubbishes US plan to move seized superyacht
The judge said she had some concern about the trusts’ allegation that the US plans to understaff the yacht on its trip to US waters and ordered the government to confer with the captain or senior officer of the yacht to determine the necessary crew.
After the Justice Department filed its forfeiture lawsuit against the yacht last year, Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, instructed its crew to keep it away from countries such as Singapore and Australia. He said those governments were likely to seize the vessel, and urged the crew to instead stick to “safe” places such as Cambodia and Vietnam, according to a court filing by the US.
See: Luxury yacht only the latest of Jho Low's assets to be seized
