Leonardo DiCaprio took the stand Monday to testify for the prosecution in the trial of former Fugees member Pras Michel. The rapper is being accused of partaking in a global campaign-finance conspiracy funded by a Malaysian businessman, Jho Low, who supposedly took billions of dollars from a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund, 1MDB. Michel has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
Furthermore, Low is currently at large. However, both he and Michel are facing charges in the United States. Since Low has not been apprehended, Michel is on trial alone.
DiCaprio Testifies
DiCaprio took the stand for roughly an hour testifying about his relationship with Low. It was the prosecution’s attempt to show that Low stole the earn favors with models, actors, and politicians in the U.S. It is possible the prosecution is using DiCaprio to outshine Michel’s star power.
Prior to the actor being called to the stand, many of the jurors seemed to be bored. However, when DiCaprio’s name was called they all seemed to perk up including one whose head snapped out of her hands and another who sat back quietly clapping his hands together.
The actor was surrounded by U.S. Marshals as he entered the courtroom wearing a blue suit. Throughout his testimony, the actor spoke quietly. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly had to ask DiCaprio a few times to speak up.
Introduction
Prosecutor Nicole Lockhart asked the star to introduce himself once he had been seated. “At the risk of asking a stupid question, what do you do for a living,” Lockhart stated. To which DiCaprio stated he was “an actor.”
DiCaprio and Low were introduced by the stepson of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, who was charged in connection with the 1MDB corruption scandal in Malaysia.
The actor told the jury about attending Low’s birthday party held in Las Vegas in 2010. It was their first introduction. The “Titanic” star said he had understood Low to be “sort of a prodigy in the business world and ultra-successful.”
DiCaprio testified that he met Michel in the 1990s and had attended a Fugees concert.
The prosecution asked the actor to identify Michel in the courtroom, and the former Fugees member sat back and waved at DiCaprio.
DiCaprio’s Relationship with Low
The actor and Low’s relationship started off as purely social, according to DiCaprio’s testimony. He recalled numerous “lavish parties” around the world, several of which Michel had been in attendance, alleged the star.
Additionally, DiCaprio stated that Low had flown several celebrities to Australia to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Afterward, Low flew them all back to Las Vegas in time to celebrate the new year in the U.S.
In 2012, Low and the actor spoke about the presidential election. The star said the conversation was “casual” and that they spoke about what party they were each in support of. Low allegedly told DiCaprio that he was planning on donating $20 or $30 million to the Democratic Party. The star said he exclaimed, “‘Wow, that’s a lot of money.'”
The money was allegedly taken from the 1MDB. Furthermore, they are accusing Michel of assisting Low in making donations through a series of straw donors.
How Low’s Actions Involved the Star
DiCaprio testified that Low eventually offered to fund a movie for him. The actor’s attorneys, a production company, and a third party conducted separate background checks on Low and his finances. In the end, they all gave the actor the green light to conduct business with Low.
Allegedly Low laundered funds from 1MDB through a Los Angeles-based movie production company called Red Granite Pictures, according to prosecutors. One of the movies produced with stolen money was “The Wolf of Wall Street” starring DiCaprio.
Additionally, Low also gave funds to the star’s environmental foundation by purchasing a painting and donating through other business entities.
Stopping Ties with Low
The actor stopped associating with Low around 2015. That was when his representatives saw an article alleging Low had used “illegal funding from Malaysia and a multitude of other places.”
A year later, prosecutors moved to seize assets from “The Wolf of Wall Street” and a painting an associate of Low’s purchased with stolen money and gifted to DiCaprio. The actor’s spokesperson stated previously that he was working with U.S. prosecutors to return any money he or his charities received from 1MDB.
By Sheena Robertson
Sources:
CNN: Leonardo DiCaprio testifies for prosecution at trial of Fugees rapper Pras Michel
NBC News: Leonardo DiCaprio testifies in Fugees rapper trial, saying his team vetted ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ backer
AP News: DiCaprio testifies in money-laundering case of Fugees rapper
Top and Featured Image by Siebbi Courtesy of Wikimedia – Creative Commons License
Inset Image COurtesy of Ninha Morandini‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
