Leonardo DiCaprio says Malaysia’s Jho Low planned to donate to Obama campaign

The possible contribution of up to US$30 million came up during casual conversation, the US star said during Fugees rapper Pras Michel’s foreign influence trial

DiCaprio is one of several prominent figures linked to Low, a fugitive who facing separate criminal charges related to Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal

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Actor Leonardo DiCaprio attends the Governors Ball following the 92nd Academy Awards in Los Angeles in February 2020. Photo: Reuters

Published: 4:40am, 4 Apr 2023Updated: 5:04am, 4 Apr 2023

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio told a Washington jury on Monday that Malaysian financier Jho Low revealed his plans to donate up to US$30 million to help US President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign in what prosecutors allege was part of an illegal foreign influence operation.

“It was a casual conversation about what party he was in support of,” DiCaprio said, telling jurors that Low said he planned on giving “a significant donation” to the Democratic Party that was “somewhere to the tune of US$20-30 million”.

“I basically said, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of money,’” DiCaprio added.

The Titanic star is a witness in the trial of Prakazrel “Pras” Michel of the Fugees hip-hop group, who faces criminal charges for his alleged role in a foreign influence campaign aimed at the administrations of Obama and Donald Trump. Michel has denied the allegations.

Prakazrel “Pras” Michel (left) and defence lawyer David Kenner arrive at federal court in Washington on Monday. Photo: AP

DiCaprio is one of several prominent figures linked to Low, a fugitive who is facing separate federal criminal charges for allegedly embezzling US$4.5 billion from Malaysia’s 1MDB sovereign wealth fund.