GAMBAR ATAS: Leonardo diCaprio (Wikimedia Commons)
MALAYSIA’S extraordinary 1MDB corruption scandal allegedly saw top officials loot billions from state coffers and go on a worldwide spending spree, buying a $250 million yacht, several paintings, and financing the Hollywood blockbuster, The Wolf of Wall Street.
Najib Razak, the then-prime minister whose 12-year jail sentence was affirmed earlier this year by the country’s highest court, was a key figure in the plundering of sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
He was convicted in July 2020 in his first corruption trial linked to the fraud and sentenced.
An appellate court last December rejected his appeal, prompting him to mount a final plea before the Federal Court, whose decision is final.
Chief Justice Maimun Tuan Mat issued a warrant of committal, which a lawyer said means Najib is going to jail immediately.
Leonardo DiCaprio named as witness
The US Justice Department launched its own probe after claims that stolen Malaysian public money was laundered through the US financial system. It has filed lawsuits seeking some $1.8 billion in assets allegedly purchased with the cash.
The department said more than $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB between 2009 and 2015 by high-level officials at the fund and their associates.
Tens of millions of dollars were used in 2012 by Najib’s stepson Riza Aziz, an aspiring film producer, to fund the Hollywood film The Wolf of Wall Street, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
The actor has since been named as a witness in Fugees rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel trial.
The rapper, along with Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, allegedly conspired to funnel more than $21 million in illegal foreign campaign contributions into former President Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign. Further, both were indicted for allegedly “orchestrating an unregistered, back-channel campaign” to influence the administration of then-President Donald Trump to drop a federal investigation of Low and others over the embezzlement of money from 1MDB. Michel – whose trial begins in March 2023 – and Low have denied the allegations, E! News reports.
With ties to Low, Leonardo DiCaprio has been listed as one of the Department of Justice’s proposed witnesses in the case.
Not only did the actor star in The Wolf of Wall Street, but prosecutors also moved to seize a Picasso painting from the star they said was purchased with $3.2 million in stolen funds and given to him by an associate of Low’s, according to the Washington Post.
The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation said, however, the actor “first learned through press reports of the government’s civil action against some of the parties involved in the making of “The Wolf of Wall Street” and that he “immediately” had his representatives reach out to the Department of Justice to determine whether he or his foundation “ever received any gifts or charitable donations directly or indirectly related to these parties and if so, to return those gifts or donations as soon as possible”.
In 2017, the star reportedly began proceedings to transfer ownership of the painting to the US government; he also returned Marlon Brando’s Oscar, given to him by Red Granite, the production company that made The Wolf of Wall Street, “to thank him for his work” on the film, per Reuters.
Red Granite also reached an agreement to pay $60 million to the US government to resolve allegations it profited from the corruption scandal, Variety reports.
Meanwhile, hundreds of millions were used, mainly by Riza and Low, to purchase high-end real estate in Beverly Hills, New York and London.
A Monet painting was bought for $35 million, a Van Gogh for $5.5 million, a $35-million Bombardier jet, a $100-million stake in EMI Music Publishing, and a $250 million yacht were also ticked off the shopping list.
