Indonesian police have confirmed that Malaysian authorities are not involved in its cooperation with the US Federal Bureau of Investigations to seize the Equanimity superyacht linked to businessperson Jho Low.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Indonesia central police deputy director of economic and special crimes Daniel Silitonga said they have not made any contact with Malaysian authorities with regard to the matter, which is being investigated under the republic's anti-money laundering laws.

"There was none," he said when asked whether there had been any contact with Malaysian authorities following the Equanimity's seizure in Benoa, Bali, last week.

"In principle, we are not in contact with Malaysian authorities.

"We are only in contact with America," added Silitonga, who earlier revealed that a team of prosecutors from US Department of Justice had arrived in Jakarta last week for purposes of legal coordination and to reclaim the ship.

The seizure of the Equanimity superyacht last week in connection with an ongoing DOJ's 1MDB-linked civil suit had renewed questions over alleged inactions by Malaysian authorities.

Former federal minister Rafidah Aziz, among others, censured Malaysian authorities claiming that she managed to spot the vessel while on a diving trip in Thailand more than a year ago. 

Silitonga, meanwhile, also clarified that the Indonesian authorities role was only to locate and seize the vessel based on a formal request from the FBI to complete its ongoing investigations.

"We are not investigating Jho Low (photo).

"We are only assisting the FBI's request related to a case which has been handled in the US," he said when asked if Indonesian authorities are investigating Low as the reported owner of Equanimity.

In an assets forfeiture suit, the DOJ claimed Low had commissioned the Equanimity to be built for an estimated US$250 million (RM1 billion) using money allegedly misappropriated from 1MDB.

The DOJ believes that at least US$4.5 billion has been misappropriated from 1MDB, and is looking to recover approximately US$1.7 billion in assets allegedly acquired in the US using these stolen funds.

Commenting further, Silitonga said Indonesian police would submit the outcome of their investigations to the republic's attorney-general, but only on specific offences related to the seizure.

At the same time, Silitonga also confirmed that investigations are still ongoing under Indonesia's anti-money laundering laws against the Equanimity's captain, Rolf Sieboldt-Berry.

"We are still corroborating all evidence and documents obtained from the yacht and information from local port authorities," he explained in reference to allegations that the captain had deliberately switched off the yacht's Automated Identification System to evade investigating authorities. 

Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak previously said reports of the superyacht belonging to Low was an example of “fake news,” claiming DOJ has shown no proof of ownership.

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