The game-changing asset seizure filing issued September 16th by the Department of Justice has zeroed in on key players in the 1MDB scandal who after several years of keeping below the radar have been seeking to escape censure and punishment.

Yacht topaz 1mdb. Msian govt called to seize luxury yacht Topaz retrieve proceeds. The 450 million dollar super-yacht Topaz first linked with 1MDB by Sarawak Report back in 2015 more recently attracted attention when it underwent a major re-fit in 2019 and changed its name to anonymous sounding A. It was revealed by the United States Department of Justice DOJ recently that 1MDB funds contributed towards the purchase of the worlds 7th largest yacht the Topaz which cost approximately US688 million RM29 billion.

DOJ Goes After PetroSaudi Abu Dhabis Royal Topaz Yacht And More. Topaz is now the second superyacht to become embroiled in the 1MDB scandal following the seizure and subsequent sale of Equanimity. Malaysian govt called to seize luxury yacht Topaz retrieve proceeds.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on July 12 2020 with the headline US Department of Justice links 957m luxury yacht Topaz with 1MDB scandal. According to legal sources if Malaysia can prove that money from 1MDB helped pay for Topaz it can make a claim. And he chartered the 147-meter yacht Topaz for one week for US 35 million.

This is because close to 120 million US140 million that originated in 1MDB is believed to have been used to pay for Topaz which was built in 2012 for its beneficial owner Sheikh. Commentators in the rarified world of such vessels wondered if this indicated new ownership although no sale had been formally registered. While much attention has been focused on the US250 million Equanimity that Jho Low bought with stolen 1MDB money Malaysia may yet be able to make a claim on an even bigger super yacht Topaz.

The DOJ made the 208-page filing to a federal court in California in an attempt to obtain a ruling that allows the department to seize 1MDB assets which includes two paintings and an apartment in Paris. 1MDB is a strategic investment and development company wholly-owned by the government of Malaysia. A formerly known as Topaz is said to be worth RM293 billion.

DAP MP Tony Pua has called on the Malaysian government to seize yet another luxury superyacht Topaz. KUALA LUMPUR July 12. Oceanus Maritime is the registered owner of Topaz and is a company set up in the Isle of Man an offshore tax haven that is popular with the super rich to register their luxury yachts.