April 3, 2023, 10:40 PM
April 3, 2023, 10:40 PM
Leonardo Dicaprio testified in Washington in a corruption trial against a 1990s hip-hop star and a disgraced Malaysian financier.
Pras Michel, a member of the American trio The Fugees, is accused of helping to secretly funnel money from Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho to influence American politics.
DiCaprio told the jury what the parties financed by Low were like with money allegedly looted from Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund, known as Malaysia Development Berhad, or 1MDB.
The “Titanic” star, called to testify by the prosecution, is not accused of irregularities in what it has become one of the biggest embezzlement cases in the world.
The 48-year-old actor said Low hosted “a lot of lavish parties with lots of different people from all over the world” on boats and nightclubs, which were frequented by celebrities including Michel.
DiCaprio said he met Low around 2010 at a party in Las Vegas, though he has a vague recollection of that night, he acknowledged with a smile.
Low then regularly invited him to parties, including one on New Year’s Eve where they flew from Australia to the United States. on a private plane, to see the clocks strike midnight twice.
“I thought he was a big businessman with many different connections in Abu Dhabi, Malaysia...some kind of a prodigy in the business world, incredibly successful”DiCaprio said.
When Low was interested in financing DiCaprio’s 2013 film “The wolf of Wall Street”, the actor’s lawyers and a private detective investigated the Malaysian financier, also known as Jho Low. They finally gave the go-ahead.
“My team and the studios gave me the green light to accept financing from Low,” DiCaprio said. “That means the background check was fine and they considered you a legitimate businessman.”
DiCaprio also accepted gifts from Low for his environmental foundation.
But in 2015, the actor recounted, he cut ties with Low after suspicions arose that he was involved in the disappearance of billions of dollars from 1MDB accounts.
Low, who is believed to have fled to China and remains on the run, allegedly used 1MDB funds to support his lifestyle, invest in the DiCaprio movie, hobnob with the rich and famous and influence politics.
Low “mentioned in passing that he (…) He was going to make a significant contribution to the Democratic Party,” DiCaprio declared. “A significant sum, around $20-30 million.”
“I said, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of money,'” remembered this Monday.
According to the prosecution, the member of The Fugees secretly sent Low’s money to the 2012 re-election campaign of then-President Barack Obama through fictitious companies, hiding the origins of the donations.
In the United States, it is illegal for foreigners to make donations to political campaigns.
