(Aug 12): Fugitive financier Jho Low has accused Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad of "hijacking" the legal proceedings of other countries by seizing the Equanimity yacht illegally.

In a statement from Jho Low's spokesperson, Jho said: “It is clear that the Mahathir regime has no interest in a fair and just legal process. His hijacking of established and long-running legal proceedings in other countries involving those governments (such as the United States) in the Equanimity matter prove this beyond any doubt.”

Malaysiakini reported that Low's spokesperson accused Mahathir of “putting words into the mouth” of the DOJ, adding that: "These repeated misstatements by Malaysia are embarrassing the US, which has stressed it has no involvement in the illegal seizure of the vessel and will update the US court on Aug 17."

Low's spokesperson added: "The US hasn’t proven anything. The truth is this: the US filed unproven allegations in a civil forfeiture complaint more than a year ago – then halted the proceedings before any party had any meaningful chance to respond.

"Mahathir’s illegal taking of the yacht makes it impossible to sell it for fair value because of the still-open legal questions and the legal repercussions for any new owner."