SINGAPORE (Aug 14): Singapore has confirmed that a private jet, reportedly owned by Low Taek Jho, the alleged 1Malaysia Development Bhd mastermind, is parked at Seletar Airport.
However, Malaysia has yet to put in a formal request to return the aircraft.
“Singapore has not received any formal request from the Malaysian authorities seeking the return of the aircraft,” says a Singapore Police Force spokesman on Tuesday.
“Any such request, along with other requests for the return of seized 1MDB-related assets, will be dealt with in accordance with Singapore’s legal framework.”
The private jet was reportedly impounded by Singapore back in February 2017.
Earlier this week, Malaysia prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysian authorities will try to bring back the Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.
"Yes, I think so. We have to bring it back," he told reporters on Sunday.
Dr Mahathir made those comments while touring the US$250 million ($343 million) superyacht Equanimity, which was handed over to Malaysia by Indonesia.
According to the US Department of Justice, Low bought the private jet in 2010 for US$35.4 million using funds allegedly taken from 1MDB. Investigations into how the plane was financed, is part of a wider probe into money laundered in and out of 1MDB.
Since 2016, Singapore already issued an arrest warrant for Low, and also his close associate Eric Tan Kim Loong.
