Malaysia launches sale of superyacht linked to graft scandal

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysia’s government has launched a one-month auction for a luxury yacht bought with money stolen from the multibillion-dollar looting of a state investment fund.

The sale that began Monday came nearly three months after Indonesia returned the $250 million yacht, Equanimity, after seizing it off Bali in February in co-operation with the U.S. FBI. The U.S. Justice Department, one of several foreign agencies investigating a massive graft scandal at the 1MDB fund, had listed the yacht among the assets it could seize and sell to recover stolen funds.

Ong Chee Kwan, a lawyer for 1MDB, says the government has opened bids for the yacht following a lengthy court process. Once the auction ends Nov. 28, he said Monday the government could make a decision on the sale within a week.