DiCaprio, Kardashian quizzed over connection with Jho Low, FBI documents show

PETALING JAYA: Celebrities Leonardo DiCaprio and Kim Kardashian were called up for questioning by US authorities regarding funds misappropriated from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), according to previously undisclosed FBI documents.

DiCaprio was reportedly questioned by US investigators from the Justice Department, FBI and Internal Revenue Service in April 2018 about his connection with Low.

The authorities were trying to determine the nature of DiCaprio's business and personal links to the fugitive businessman, wanted by the United States for pursuing a "back channel" lobbying campaign to drop the 1MDB investigation.

According to a recent Bloomberg Businessweek report, DiCaprio told them he met Low at a nightclub in 2010 and they subsequently pursued several projects together, including the film The Wolf Of Wall Street, produced by Riza Aziz's Red Granite Pictures.

Low's relationship with DiCaprio and other celebrities captured further media attention when Fugees rapper Prakazrel "Pras" Michél was investigated for money laundering.

The hip-hop artiste was indicted in 2019 for illegally transferring foreign funds into former US president Barack Obama's 2012 presidential campaign as well as lobbying government officials on Jho Low and the Chinese government's behalf.

The funds, made out to be legitimate political contributions, were allegedly stolen from 1MDB.

Michel's trial is scheduled to begin on March 27 with Obama, Donald Trump and Las Vegas real estate mogul Steve Wynn expected to testify, among other witnesses.

According to a Hollywood Reporter story on the same documents, DiCaprio told the investigators he did not know where Low's wealth came from and delegated the vetting of their business dealings, as well as a background check on the financier, to others.

Their relationship apparently soured in 2015 when Low promised a Roy Lichtenstein painting to DiCaprio's foundation for its annual fundraiser but the artwork never materialised, leaving the star embarrassed.

Bloomberg Businessweek also said Kim Kardashian told FBI agents in February 2019 that she met Low in Las Vegas and he had given her ex-husband Kris Humphries US$100,000 (RM447,550) to pay for fireworks for their wedding ceremony.

Representatives of DiCaprio and Kardashian refused to comment any further, according to the report.