O ex-primeiro-ministro malaio terá desviado milhões de um fundo que ele próprio criou para ajudar o país. O dinheiro, diz a acusação, serviu para pagar obras de arte, festas privadas e até o filme O Lobo de Wall Street. O julgamento começa hoje.
Foram milhões e milhões, desviados através de um esquema criado pelo herdeiro político da Malásia e sustentado por um playboy fascinado por Hollywood e que um dia quis a cantora Britney Spears a sair do seu bolo de aniversário. E conseguiu-o. O escândalo financeiro ficou conhecido como o "maior caso de cleptocracia do mundo". O julgamento começa nesta quarta-feira, 3 de abril, em Kuala Lumpur. No banco dos réus está o ex-primeiro-ministro da Malásia, Najib Razak, que se declara inocente. Em causa estão cerca de 4,5 mil milhões de euros.
De acordo com os procuradores dos EUA e da Malásia, o dinheiro acabou por ser direcionado para as contas de uns quantos poderosos e foi usado para comprar imóveis de luxo, um jato particular, obras de Van Gogh e Monet - e ainda para financiar o filme O Lobo de Wall Street, protagonizado por por Leonardo DiCaprio.
Os tentáculos do escândalo do 1MDB - o nome do fundo criado por Razak, que era o presidente do conselho consultivo - estenderam-se a todo o mundo: as autoridades de pelo menos seis países detetaram uma vasta rede de transações financeiras realizadas através de bancos suíços e paraísos fiscais.
O escândalo levou à queda do partido político que governou a Malásia desde que o país se tornou uma nação independente. O Goldman Sachs, um dos bancos mais poderosos de Wall Street, é um dos visados, embora negue as acusações. Há ainda um playboy - procurado na Malásia e nos EUA: as autoridades ainda só conseguiram "caçar" o seu iate de luxo, avaliado em 250 milhões de dólares.
A investigação jornalística que denunciou o escândalo financeiro fez o óbvio: seguiu o rasto dos dólares. A BBC traçou o perfil dos principais rostos - e alegados responsáveis - do esquema.
Najib Razak: amigo de Obama e cabecilha do esquema
O ex-primeiro-ministro da Malásia descende da aristocracia política do país. É o filho mais velho do segundo primeiro-ministro da Malásia, Abdul Razak, e sobrinho do terceiro homem a ocupar o cargo. Foi Najib Razak quem criou o fundo 1MDB, em 2009, com o objetivo de impulsionar o desenvolvimento económico da Malásia.
No entanto, durante muito tempo e para muitos nomes de relevo - como Barack Obama ou David Cameron - o político era um homem que poderia trazer alguma modernidade à Malásia. Rasak estudou Economia Industrial na Universidade de Nottingham, em Inglaterra, e costumava discursar sobre a importância do "islão moderado".
No entanto, quando era ministro das Finanças já havia desconfianças em relação à sua atuação. No decorrer da compra de um submarino, em 2002, houve suspeitas de desvio de verbas e a manequim da Mongólia que serviu de intérprete para a compra do submersível foi assassinada - França continua a investigar a morte e só recentemente a Malásia reabriu o caso. O ex-político diz que nunca a conheceu.
O que era o 1MDB?
Era uma forma de gerir a riqueza da Malásia através de investimentos estratégicos. Os primeiros alertas chegaram em 2015, quando falhou os primeiros pagamentos devidos a bancos - mas há muito que investigadores e jornalistas "farejavam" o fundo.
Em julho de 2016, o Departamento de Justiça dos EUA entrou com uma ação civil alegando que mais de 3,5 mil milhões de dólares tinham sido roubados - o valor foi depois ratificado para 4,5 mil milhões.
"Um número de funcionários corruptos tratou o fundo público como se fosse uma conta bancária", disse a então procuradora-geral dos EUA, Loretta Lynch. Houve uma lista de nomes que foi tornada pública, mas o número um dessa lista ficou desconhecido: era Najib Razak, e foi o seu próprio governo que confirmou a sua identidade. Foi acusado pelos EUA de ter roubado 681 milhões em fundos, apesar de ter devolvido a maior parte.
O ex-primeiro-ministro acabaria por ser declarado inocente de todas as irregularidades cometidas, mas assim que a oposição tomou o poder e Razak foi afastado, a atitude das autoridades mudou radicalmente, com a polícia a invadir os seus apartamentos e a apreender bens de luxo e 28,6 milhões de dólares em dinheiro.
Está atualmente acusado de 42 crimes de corrupção, lavagem de dinheiro e abuso de poder. Declara-se inocente em todos eles.
Rosmah Mansor: a "Marie Antoinette" malaia
A mulher de Najib Razak gostava tanto de luxo e ostentação que é comparada a Imelda Marcos e à rainha Marie Antoinette. Também ela é acusada de lavagem de dinheiro e evasão fiscal, mas, tal como Rasak, declarou-se inocente.
As imagens dos carros de supermercado com mais de 500 carteiras de marca, centenas de relógios e 12 mil joias - com um valor estimado em 273 milhões de dólares - invadiram as redes sociais. Uma vida de luxo num país onde a maioria da população luta para sobreviver. Rosmah tinha um capricho: adorava carteiras da marca Hermès Birkin, e foi duramente criticada por isso.
Rozanna Latiff, correspondente da agência de notícias Reuters, disse à BBC que "nos dias em que Rosmah Mansor é chamada para interrogatório há muito interesse com o que veste".
Mahathir Mohamad: o redentor
Regressou à política da Malásia aos 93 anos, depois de ter liderado o governo do país nas décadas de 1980, 1990 e início de 2000. Voltou para derrotar Najib Razak, que tinha ajudado a lançar. "Peço desculpas a todos, que fui eu quem o elevou, o maior erro da minha vida. Quero corrigir esse erro", disse Mahathir na campanha eleitoral de 2018, depois de ter passado para o partido da oposição só para derrubar o antigo protegido, Razak.
Jho Low: o playboy em fuga
Os procuradores norte-americanos dizem que Jho Low usou os seus contactos políticos para conseguir negócios para o 1MDB em troca de um pagamento de centenas de milhões de dólares. Muitos mil milhões terão sido branqueados através do sistema financeiro dos EUA e usados para comprar alguns dos imóveis mais caros do mundo, obras de arte milionárias e até para financiar produções cinematográficas em Hollywood.
Além das festas extravagantes e das amizades com a realeza árabe e celebridades - Britney Spears saiu do seu bolo de aniversário em 2012, em Las Vegas -, os jornalistas que se dedicaram à investigação do escândalo financeiro afirmam que Jho Low pode ter sido a pessoa que teve mais acesso a dinheiro líquido no mundo. Depois da queda de Najib Razak tornou-se um fugitivo - no entanto continua a dizer-se inocente através de um blogue.
Foi através de Jho Low que o escândalo financeiro com origem na Malásia envolveu celebridades e estrelas de cinema como Leonardo DiCaprio, o protagonista do filme O Lobo de Wall Street. Lançado em 2013, o filme foi coproduzido e financiado por Riza Aziz, filho de Rosmah Mansor e enteado de Najib Razak. O Ministério Público dos EUA diz que foi o dinheiro do fundo que financiou o filme.
DiCaprio tem colaborado com as autoridades e chegou a entregar um quadro de Picasso à polícia: tinha sido Low a oferecer-lhe a obra.
Paris Hilton, o músico Kasseem Dean (também conhecido como Swizz Beatz) e Alicia Keys eram algumas das celebridades próximas do playboy que terá comprado um quadro de Van Gogh e duas pinturas de Monet com fundos do 1MDB.
Jho Low vivia em grande: navegava no seu iate de luxo durante dez dias pela Europa, oferecia presentes milionários a supermodelos - como um piano de cauda transparente com um valor estimado de um milhão de dólares - e organizava jantares em praias particulares.
Timothy Leissner
Banqueiro alemão numa das instituições financeiras mais poderosas do mundo, o Goldman Sachs, juntou-se a Jho Low depois chegar a presidente da empresa na Malásia. Leissner e outro banqueiro do Goldman, Roger Ng, usaram aos contactos de Low para obter negócios vantajosos para a empresa - que no início não quis trabalhar com o malaio por duvidar da origem do seu dinheiro.
O banco terá cobrado honorários na ordem dos 600 milhões de dólares depois de ter conseguido angariar e subscrever três vendas de títulos que renderam 6,5 mil milhões para o 1MDB, em 2012 e 2013.
Leissner declarou-se culpado das acusações dos EUA de conspiração com vista à lavagem de dinheiro e por ter violado as leis anticorrupção ao subornar autoridades estrangeiras. A Malásia acusou também Timothy Leissner, além de Roger Ng e o Goldman Sachs.
Roger Ng deixou a empresa em 2014 e nega todas as acusações. O Goldman Sachs também nega qualquer irregularidade e suspendeu Leissner em 2016, acusando-o de ser desonesto. O grupo financeiro pediu desculpas pelo comportamento, mas o governo da Malásia rejeitou e solicitou ao banco para ressarcir o país em 7, 5 mil milhões de dólares.
Statements to the Media
STATEMENT REGARDING THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT’S ALLEGED CIVIL FORFEITURE ACTION AGAINST MR. LOW’S FAMILY – 29 MARCH 2019
The media reports on the alleged actions that the Mahathir regime are now seeking to freeze bank accounts purportedly linked to Mr. Low, after recently attempting to suddenly summarily seize their family home of 20 years which the many governments in over a decade have not, clearly demonstrate the regime’s persistent strategy of harassment and political persecution against their perceived opponents by any means necessary.
Once again, the Mahathir regime has ignored the rule of law, and in a clear abuse of power is seeking to exploit the attorney general’s office and police force to attack opponents and do Mahathir regime’s personal bidding.
This is yet another example of Mahathir regime’s trial by media and is further evidence that it is simply not possible to receive a fair trial in Malaysia.
STATEMENT REGARDING THE SEIZURE OF 69 TANJONG BUNGA PARK – 23 MARCH 2019
Media reports allege that a seizure notice was left outside the home of Mr. Low’s family. The public manner in which this alleged notice was posted and disseminated to the media is yet another example of the Mahathir regime’s ‘trial by media’.
The Low family property was built and completed around twenty years ago, during Mahathir’s previous administration. This was more than a decade before 1MDB ever existed and at that time Mr. Low was still a teenager.
The property has never been of interest to any Malaysian government in the previous two decades. This purported seizure of a property unconnected to any of the allegations is a blatant demonstration of Mahathir’s politicisation of the issues and is yet another example of the regime’s practice of usurping the rule of law, further demonstrating that Mr. Low cannot get a fair trial.
It is clear that the Mahathir regime’s intent is to score ‘political wins’ by taking aim at Mr. Low through whatever means possible, irrespective of the law or basic human rights.
STATEMENT REGARDING DISMISSAL OF FORFEITURE ACTION AGAINST THE YACHT EQUANIMITY – 1 JANUARY 2019
Equanimity is owned by Equanimity (Cayman) Ltd., but given the fact that Mr Low will be inevitably drawn into the media coverage over the US court granting the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) motion to dismiss its forfeiture action against the yacht, he issues the following statement through his lawyers:
The DOJ, with the consent of Equanimity (Cayman) Ltd., have agreed to seek dismissal of this action.
While it is not a perfect outcome, it is reasonable and understandable, given the brazenness of the Mahathir Government in illegitimately seizing the yacht from Indonesia, in a blatant violation of Indonesian law and with no regard for a US court order designed to ensure all parties were afforded their full rights under law.
Indeed, by illegally seizing the Equanimity, where the DOJ had been willing to cover the substantial cost of the vessel’s upkeep, docking it in a hazardous environment at Port Klang, and then subjecting the vessel to poorly-controlled media and public access, the Malaysian Government is solely responsible for substantially eroding the yacht’s value.
Not surprisingly, the hapless Mahathir regime, in a disastrous PR stunt, failed to sell the vessel at fair market value at auction.
Mr Low recognizes that, as a result of the DOJ’s motion to dismiss the action against the Equanimity with the consent of Equanimity (Cayman) Ltd., the US court has made no negative findings or rulings against Mr. Low regarding the US Government’s allegations in the forfeiture complaint, and there have been no admissions of any wrongdoing, as is consistent with Mr Low’s position of maintaining his innocence.
STATEMENT REGARDING FAILURE OF MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT TO SELL THE YACHT EQUANIMITY AT AUCTION – 18 DECEMBER 2018
Equanimity is owned by Equanimity (Cayman) Ltd., but given the fact that Mr Low is inevitably drawn into the media coverage over the yacht’s illegal seizure by the Malaysian Government, he issues the following statement through his lawyers:
The predictable failure of the Mahathir Government to hold a successful auction of the yacht Equanimity is another example of a Mahathir regime prioritizing illegal acts over the rule of law in a transparent effort to score political points.
This was a failed PR stunt from the outset. By illegally seizing the yacht from Indonesia, where the US Government had been willing to cover the substantial cost of the vessel’s upkeep, docking it in a hazardous environment at Port Klang, and then subjecting the vessel to poorly-controlled media and public access, the Malaysian Government was responsible for substantially eroding the Equanimity’s value.
The predictable failure of the Mahathir Government to hold a successful auction of the yacht Equanimity is another example of a Mahathir regime prioritizing illegal acts over the rule of law in a transparent effort to score political points.
This was a failed PR stunt from the outset. By illegally seizing the yacht from Indonesia, where the US Government had been willing to cover the substantial cost of the vessel’s upkeep, docking it in a hazardous environment at Port Klang, and then subjecting the vessel to poorly-controlled media and public access, the Malaysian Government was responsible for substantially eroding the Equanimity’s value.
Further, in extra-judicially removing the Equanimity from Indonesia, the Mahathir regime arrogantly ignored court rulings in Indonesia as well as established legal proceedings in the US. Consistent with its politically motivated actions, and through a predetermined process by the Mahathir regime, the Malaysian Government only then announced that it had established a so-called “right to sell” the vessel.
With so much doubt hanging over its ownership, no sensible, independent third-party buyer is going to purchase a vessel from an unreliable vendor like the Mahathir regime at anything other than a hugely depressed value. Indeed, what now amounts to the doomed fire-sale of the Equanimity is an admission that this political PR stunt by the Mahathir regime has failed, and that these acts by the Malaysian Government have been nothing more than political gamesmanship at the cost of the rule of law and the fair administration of justice.
STATEMENT REGARDING MALAYSIAN AUTHORITIES FILING CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST GOLDMAN SACHS AND OTHERS - 17 DECEMBER 2018
A spokesperson for Mr. Low, through his attorneys, issued the following statement:
Mr. Low maintains his innocence. As has been stated previously, Mr. Low will not submit to any jurisdiction where guilt has been predetermined by politics and there is no independent legal process.
It is clear that Mr. Low cannot get a fair trial in Malaysia, where the regime has proven numerous times that they have no interest in the rule of law.
STATEMENT REGARDING THE FILING OF CHARGES AGAINST MR. LOW - 4 DECEMBER 2018
A spokesperson for Mr. Low, through his attorneys, issued the following statement on the filing of charges against Mr Low in Malaysia:
These charges are intended to create another false sense of security for the political loss that the Mahathir regime has brought upon itself due to its failures on current issues; disregard for the rule of law; and intentional misinterpretation of the Constitution.
They are no more than a continuation of the trial by media and political reprisals by the Mahathir regime.
Mr. Low maintains his innocence. As has been previously stated, Mr. Low will not submit to any jurisdiction where guilt has been predetermined by politics and there is no independent legal process. It is clear that Mr. Low cannot get a fair trial in Malaysia, where the regime has proven numerous times that they have no interest in the rule of law.
STATEMENT REGARDING AGREEMENTS NEGOTIATED WITH ABU DHABI’S MUBADALA AND ENDORSED BY U.S. GOVERNMENT - 16 NOVEMBER 2018
A spokesperson for Mr. Low, through his attorneys, issued the following statement:
Mr. Low is aware that, after lengthy and successful negotiations endorsed by the U.S. Department of Justice and Abu Dhabi government owned Mubadala Development Company (“Mubadala”), Claimants in the civil proceedings relating to the Park Lane Hotel in New York will seek to withdraw their claims to the property, thereby paving the way for the expeditious sale of the Hotel to Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala and other investors. Mr. Low is in agreement with the prospective actions of the parties to this proceeding, which will serve as an important step towards ensuring the value of the property is maintained through immediate sale.
By seeking to withdraw their claims to the Park Lane Hotel, it is understood and agreed by the U.S. Government that the Claimants have made no admission of wrongdoing or liability.
This development builds on the momentum of a series of successful agreements negotiated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Justice, including a U.S. federal court-approved stipulation in October that allowed for a bidding process to sell a Global 5000 jet aircraft currently located in Singapore, and an agreement entered into that same month to sell an interest in EMI Music Publishing alongside Mubadala, Blackstone’s GSO Capital Partners, David Geffen and the Jackson estate to the Sony Corporation which completed yesterday with payment received.
Mr. Low looks forward to the continuing cooperation between the owners of these and other assets and the U.S. Government in ensuring that the value of such assets are maintained and that the rule of law is properly followed.
STATEMENT REGARDING THE LEGAL CASE - 1 NOVEMBER 2018
A spokesman for Mr. Low, through his legal team, issued the following statement in response to today’s indictment:
Mr. Low maintains his innocence.
As noted in the indictment today, Mr. Low held no formal position at 1MDB, nor was he ever employed by Goldman Sachs, or the Governments of Malaysia or Abu Dhabi. Furthermore, the bond offerings detailed in the indictment were undertaken openly and lawfully between experienced, well-regulated financial institutions and government entities.
The U.S. Department of Justice specifically states that the charges in the indictment are allegations, and that Mr. Low is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Mr. Low simply asks that the public keep an open mind regarding this case until all of the evidence comes to light, which he believes will vindicate him.
STATEMENT REGARDING RECENT BOOKS ON 1MDB – 17 SEPTEMBER 2018
Billion Dollar Whale is one of three recently and hastily published books, with the authors attempting to write ‘instant history,’ without the benefit of evidence and before the issues have even begun to be resolved.
As reviewers and commentators from the Financial Times and Australian Financial Review, among others, have pointed out, this particular book is mostly about transactions undertaken by global financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds and the managers of 1MDB - all of whom were experienced in such transactions and knew exactly what they were doing.
In fact, Mr. Low seems to disappear from the narrative when any of the alleged fraud occurs, only to then be accused – without any evidence – of having been responsible for it.
But, as The Financial Times noted, that sort of tale doesn’t sell books or get the authors a movie deal. Thus, this book is written with allegations disguised as fact and gossip passed off as legitimate reporting. The narrative is framed to allow the authors to write about celebrities, and models and parties, without ever proving any of the allegations.
Rather than wait for the full facts surrounding this case to emerge, the authors chose to publish their tale while there are ongoing and unresolved proceedings in the US, and before a single piece of evidence has been produced before any court.
Billion Dollar Whale is guilt-by-lifestyle, and trial-by-media at its worst. We simply ask that the audience bears this in mind if they choose to read this, or any of these books.
STATEMENT REGARDING POLITICAL CHARGES – 24 AUGUST 2018
A spokesman for Mr. Low, through his attorneys, issued the following statement on the filing of charges against Mr. Low in Malaysia:
These charges are obviously designed to distract from the Mahathir regime’s disastrous seizure of the Equanimity yacht and their plan to sell it at auction without any attempt to verify ownership of the vessel through proper legal process.
Mr. Low maintains his innocence and is confident he will be vindicated. Mr. Low and his lawyers request that the public keep an open mind until all of the evidence comes to light. This has been a case of “trial-by-media” from the start, and unfortunately, the circus continues.
Mr. Low is conferring with his lawyers regarding what legal action he can take to address this latest political reprisal, but he stands by his earlier statements: He will not submit to any jurisdiction where guilt has been predetermined by politics and self-interest overrules legal process. It is abundantly clear that it would be impossible for Mr. Low to get a fair trial in Malaysia, where the government has proven time and time again that they have no interest in the rule of law.
STATEMENT REGARDING THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT’S PLANS TO SELL THE YACHT EQUANIMITY – 23 AUGUST 2018
A spokesman for Mr. Low, through his attorneys, issued the following statement in response to the Malaysian government’s immediate plans to sell the yacht Equanimity at public auction:
If anyone needs further proof that the corrupt Mahathir regime has no interest in following any manner of fair and just legal process, then this is it.
This is nothing more than a sham hearing as part of an unjust and arbitrary legal process subject to the whims of a vindictive regime regarding an asset whose ownership has yet to be determined.
The unfortunate part is that the U.S. government was willing to cover the cost of the Equanimity’s upkeep while proceedings were pending in the U.S. Instead, as a publicity stunt, Mahathir has unnecessarily put this financial burden on the Malaysian government and, given the illegal manner in which he took the asset, it is unlikely any bid will come close to its fair market value.
Issues related to the ownership of this asset could have been handled through proceedings in Indonesia and the United States that were underway when Mahathir’s forces illegally boarded the yacht and sailed it off to Malaysia. His politically motivated publicity stunt to prop up his fragile regime has obviously backfired: He now realizes it costs up to RM3 million to maintain the yacht, so his only option is a quick fire sale at a likely huge discount.
The U.S. government has repeatedly stated that it had no advance knowledge of Mahathir’s illegal seizure of the yacht. No doubt they had no advance notice of this brazen attempt at a quick sale either.
This illegal and costly act once again shows Mahathir’s interests are purely political and that he has no respect for the rule of law.
STATEMENT REGARDING LACK OF A CHANCE TO RECEIVE A FAIR HEARING – 17 AUGUST 2018
A spokesman for Mr. Low, through his attorneys, issued the following statement in response to a report in the Wall Street Journal suggesting that Mr Low would be on the agenda when Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir met Chinese President Xi. This report was false, subsequent statements from Mahathir revealed that Mr Low was not discussed:
Today’s Wall Street Journal article was obviously planted there by the Mahathir regime, working with these reporters towards a common goal: The Wall Street Journal reporters have a book coming out next month that they are trying to sell, while Mahathir is intent on advancing his own corrupt political agenda by assigning guilt without any form of legal process. So much for the rule of law.
This has been a case of trial-by-media from the start, fuelled by leaks from prosecutors and government officials who have little interest in the truth. For The Wall Street Journal, it is a gross breach of journalistic ethics. There is a clear conflict of interest in allowing reporters with a financial interest in a particular narrative to report on these matters. Any facts that get in the way of the themes of their upcoming book are ignored, while any source—no matter how self-interested—who advances their storyline is believed.
Before any evidence has been presented in any court, including in the United States, these reporters have passed judgment, supporting a Mahathir regime that has proven its utter disregard for anything resembling a fair legal process.
It is little wonder Mr. Low believes there is no jurisdiction where he can get a fair hearing in this matter. To reiterate: Mr. Low will not submit to any jurisdiction where guilt has been predetermined by politics and self-interest overrules legal process.
STATEMENT REGARDING THE YACHT EQUANIMITY, ILLEGALLY TAKEN BY THE MALAYSIAN AND INDONESIAN GOVERNMENTS, AS IT ARRIVES IN MALAYSIA – 06 AUGUST 2018
The Mahathir regime’s illegal act today, ignoring court rulings in legal proceedings in the US and Indonesia, prove he has no interest in a fair and just process.
The yacht's owner, Equanimity Cayman Limited, had already filed a claim on this asset, which Mahathir ignores. Further proceedings have been issued today in response to this illegal act.
Mahathir has chosen to bring the asset illegally into a rigged Malaysian system manipulated by a man who only cares about his absolute political rule. It is ultimately justice that suffers.
Since his election, Mahathir has tried reinventing his public image following the appalling abuses of the rule of law he previously presided over, including the Anwar case and the 1988 judicial crisis. The reality is that he has simply continued on as he did during his previous regime and has shown that his only objectives are political: from freezing bank accounts of rival political parties, to public trial-by-media, where guilt is proclaimed before any evidence is presented.
STATEMENT REGARDING THE MALAYSIAN AND INDONESIAN GOVERNMENTS’ ILLEGAL SEIZURE OF THE YACHT EQUANIMITY – 04 AUGUST 2018
Equanimity is owned by Equanimity (Cayman) Ltd. That company is already litigating this matter in Indonesia and the United States. But given the fact that Mr Low will be inevitably drawn into the media coverage over this illegal seizure by the Malaysian government, he issues the following statement through his lawyers:
The action of the Mahathir government in illegitimately taking this asset shows just how quickly the rule of law disappears in Mahathir’s regime. It is a violation of an Indonesian law and court decision by a politically motivated Malaysian government bent on advancing its own political agenda with little regard to existing court rulings or basic legal rights.
As he did in Malaysia’s 1988 judicial crisis, Mahathir is showing the world that his new regime still has no interest in the rule of law.
Mahathir’s politically driven actions also go against recent US court orders. The USDOJ has argued that it is critical that they have possession to ensure the asset retains its value until a fair court hearing can determine final ownership and the rights of all the parties involved.
Actions like this make it increasingly clear that there is no jurisdiction where the issues in this case can be subject to a fair hearing, thanks to a global media circus fuelled by politically motivated parties whose aim is to convict Mr. Low in the public arena.
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