Federal prosecutors described to a Washington, DC, jury on Thursday how a former Fugees rapper allegedly got caught up in three schemes to illegally influence two presidential administrations on behalf of a foreign businessman
The trial against Pras Michel, the Grammy-winning artist, began in earnest on Thursday with opening statements. Prosecutor Nicole Lockhart told the jury of six men and nine women how Michel allegedly took more than $100 million from Malaysian billionaire Jho Low and used that money to bolster Low’s influence in the United States. Michel has pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy, witness tampering and failing to register as an agent of China.
In 2017, Lockhart said, Low was facing several investigations in the United States over allegations that he had embezzled billions of dollars from a Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund, 1MDB, and used some of that money to make purchases in the United States. “Low was in trouble and Low needed help,” Lockhart said, alleging that he again turned to Michel. Lockhart alleged that Low asked Michel if he knew anyone who could “get the matter resolved,” and said he was willing to pay millions of dollars.
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