Seizure of 'Equanimity' ruled invalid

JAKARTA: An Indonesian court today ruled the seizure of luxury yacht Equanimity by authorities here was invalid and without legal basis.
"We declare the confiscation by police as invalid and legally baseless," Justice Ratmoho told the hearing at the South Jakarta District Court.
On Feb 28, Indonesian police in Bali confiscated the 92m, Cayman Islands-registered super yacht off Bali.
Ratmoho said the seizure should have been carried out "under the reciprocal legal assistance framework as stipulated by a 2006 law, which gives the mandate to the Law and Human Rights Ministry," and not the police.
The judge also said there has been no court ruling that the owner of the yacht committed a crime, reported Singapore-based The Straits Times.
"(If) there is no (proven) crime, there should not be any confiscation," he said.
Andi Simangunsong, a lawyer representing Equanimity Cayman Ltd, told reporters earlier this month that the yacht was not linked to any criminal case in Indonesia, therefore the local police had no authority to seize the vessel.
He added that a reciprocal legal assistance arrangement between Indonesia and a foreign country is possible but it must go through the Law and Human Rights Ministry, not just through the police.