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(CNN) Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio stood as the first blockbuster witness at the star-studded trial of former Fugees member Pras Michelle on Monday.
Michelle has been accused of participating in a global campaign finance conspiracy financed by Malaysian businessman Joe Low who allegedly stole billions from 1MDB, a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. Yes. Michelle has pleaded not guilty.
DiCaprio, who reportedly testified before the grand jury that handed Michelle’s indictment, has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
Both Michel and Low have been indicted in the United States, but Low remains a fugitive and Michel is on trial alone.
DiCaprio testified for about an hour about his relationship with Law in a prosecutor’s bid to show that Law used stolen money to do favors for US actors, models and politicians. Using DiCaprio as a charismatic figure to explain the extent of Malaysia’s money-scheming allegations, he likely brings star power that surpasses even Michelle.
When government prosecutors called DiCaprio as a witness, some of the jurors who had been bored during the previous round of witnessing caught their attention. The jurors looked around in excitement.
DiCaprio entered the courtroom wearing a blue suit surrounded by US Marshals. He spoke slowly during his testimony and was sometimes so quiet that District Judge Colleen Collier Cottery, who is presiding over the case, had to ask him to speak.
Prosecutor Nicole Lockhart asked DiCaprio to introduce himself, saying, “What do you do for a living at the risk of asking ridiculous questions?”
“I’m an actor,” DiCaprio replied.
Leonardo DiCaprio testifies in court against Fugees rapper Plas Michele.
testified about his relationship with Law
Law and DiCaprio were introduced by the son-in-law of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was indicted in Malaysia in connection with the 1MDB corruption scandal, according to prosecutors.
On Monday, DiCaprio told jurors about attending Lowe’s birthday party in Las Vegas around 2010. I understand,” he said.
DiCaprio also said he met Michelle in the 1990s and attended a Fugees concert. .
When DiCaprio was asked to identify Michelle in court, Michelle leaned forward and waved at the actor.
Law’s relationship with DiCaprio was purely social at first, DiCaprio testified, and allegedly threw “many lavish parties” around the world, some of which even Michelle attended. DiCaprio said Law flew a few celebrities to Australia for New Year’s Eve and then returned to Las Vegas to celebrate New Year’s again.
Michelle’s attorney, David Kenner, asked again in Las Vegas, “Are you in time for the celebration?”
“It depends on how you look at it,” DiCaprio replied.
DiCaprio told jurors that he spoke with Law in 2012 about the ongoing presidential election.
“It was a causal conversation about which parties he supported. I told him which parties I supported.” He told me that he would make a great contribution to the Democratic Party.
“I said, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of money,'” DiCaprio said.
Prosecutors allege that the money was stolen from 1MDB and that Michel helped Low donate through a series of straw donors.
Law eventually offered to finance DiCaprio’s film, he testified. DiCaprio’s lawyers, production company, and third parties all conducted background checks on Lowe and his finances and gave DiCaprio the go-ahead to deal with Lowe, DiCaprio said.
Leonardo DiCaprio testifies in court against Fugees rapper Plas Michele.
Prosecutors allege that Low laundered money from 1MDB through Los Angeles-based film production company Red Granite Pictures. Red Granite is said to have used some of the money laundered to finance movies, including DiCaprio’s 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street. , thanked Lowe by name while accepting a Golden Globe for his role in the film.
Law also funded DiCaprio’s environmental foundation by purchasing paintings at fundraising events and making donations through other entities, he testified.
DiCaprio testified that he stopped talking to Lowe around 2015 when his agent discovered an article alleging that Lowe was using “illegal funds from Malaysia and many other places.”
In 2016, prosecutors moved to seize the property of “The Wolf of Wall Street” and a Picasso painting allegedly purchased with funds stolen by Rowe’s associates and given to DiCaprio.
A spokesperson for DiCaprio previously told CNN that DiCaprio is working with US prosecutors to return funds received from 1MDB.
This story has been updated with additional details.
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