"This is not a matter of the United States government forcibly seizing property within a foreign country without the proper authority from that country’s government," Fischer said.
The trusts that hold title to the "Equanimity" on Low’s behalf will be required to turn over the yacht without seizure by the US in Indonesian waters, according to Fischer’s ruling.
The trusts can comply with that order, or not, the judge said, "depending on which consequences they prefer".
The trusts were given 30 days to try to challenge the decision because of the unique nature of the proceeding.
The yacht is among more than US$1.5 billion in assets that the US claims Low and his accomplices acquired with money they siphoned from the 1Malaysia Development Bhd sovereign wealth fund.
