The international investigation into Malaysia’s beleaguered sovereign wealth fund is seeking to repossess a private jet, a week after a $250m superyacht reportedly bought with stolen 1MDB funds was handed over.
Recently-elected Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad confirmed that the government would seek to take possession of the jet, which is believed to be in Singapore, in an interview with state news agency Bernama on Sunday.
The Bombardier Global 5000 plane was acquired in 2010 by the man at the heart of the investigation into 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Low Taek Jho, reports Reuters.
Jho Low, as he is best known, is accused of using 1MDB funds to go on extensive and expensive shopping sprees.
In addition to the jet and yacht, the money has been reportedly used to buy Picasso paintings, jewellery and real estate.
The yacht, Equanimity, was seized in Indonesia earlier this year and handed over to Malaysia a week ago.
Jho Low’s former girlfriend, supermodel Miranda Kerr, handed over $8.1m worth of jewellery to US authorities in June 2017. Included was an 11.72 carat heart-shaped diamond pendant.
His whereabouts are currently unknown.
The US Department of Justice, one of the international bodies investigating the alleged embezzlement, says over $4.5bn (£3.5bn, €3.9bn) was taken from the fund.
Malaysia’s biggest corruption scandal
Involving investigations in six countries, the 1MDB scandal has rocked Malaysia.
In a shock election result in May, former prime minister Najib Razak was ousted from office. Another central figure in the alleged embezzlement, he has been charged with money laundering by the country’s anti-corruption agency.
Razak will stand trial in February 2019 and face charges of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power, in addition to money laundering.
All of the charged relate to an alleged transfer of MYR42m (£8.1m, $10.3m, €9m) into his personal bank account from a former unit of 1MDB.
