Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio testified in a US federal court trial related to international money laundering and illegal political donations. He is a witness in the case against Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, a founding member of the 1990s hip-hop group Fugees.
Michel, 50, is facing charges linked to his alleged involvement with Jho Low, a fugitive financier accused of orchestrating the theft of over $4.5 billion from a Malaysian development fund known as the 1MDB scandal. Low, who remains in China and has not faced prosecution, had been a significant contributor to DiCaprio’s charitable foundation and provided primary funding for the film “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
DiCaprio clarified that he had his team and studio carefully vet the funding and Low’s legitimacy before accepting the money. He also mentioned a conversation where Low expressed interest in making a substantial donation to Barack Obama’s campaign, totaling around $20-30 million, which surprised him.
Notably, DiCaprio is not facing any charges in this case, but his involvement is tied to his relationship with Low, who was a key financier for “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Michel is accused of channeling money from Low to Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign through straw donors, a violation of campaign finance laws. Additionally, prosecutors allege that Michel attempted to obstruct an investigation into Low during the Trump administration.
DiCaprio explained that he had met Low at a Las Vegas birthday party in 2010 and believed him to be a prominent businessman with connections in Abu Dhabi and Malaysia. He and Michel had known each other since the 1990s when they met backstage at a Fugees concert.
Low was known for hosting extravagant parties and group trips, including events like the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. DiCaprio recalled one such trip that involved celebrating New Year’s Eve in Australia and then flying to Las Vegas to celebrate it again on the same day. Michel had accompanied them on some of these excursions.
The trial is ongoing.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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