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Malaysia 1MDB scandal
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Rapper Pras Michel. Photo: Reuters

Ex-Fugees rapper Pras Michel denies links with Jho Low, will confront 1MDB charges in new album ‘Elon Musk’

  • Malaysian businessman and the singer allegedly conspired to steer foreign campaign contributions into Obama’s 2012 campaign
  • US prosecutors said funds totalling more than US$21 million were funnelled by Low into the election, with some of the funds listed under Michel’s name

Former Fugees rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel appeared in court on Thursday and told reporters he is innocent of criminal charges that he conspired to funnel foreign funds into Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential re-election, while also plugging his upcoming album.

Michel and Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, a wealthy Malaysian businessman with a tabloid partying reputation, allegedly conspired to steer foreign campaign contributions into Obama’s 2012 campaign.

Last week, the Justice Department unsealed charges against Michel and Low. It is a crime for foreign nationals to make political contributions in US federal, state or local elections.

Michel said he has no plans to take a plea deal if offered one and that “every issue and everything that has been said around here” will be addressed on his new nine-track extended-play album.

I’m totally innocent and my lawyer’s going to handle the whole trial
Prakazrel Michel

“I’m totally innocent and my lawyer’s going to handle the whole trial and we’re in full compliance,” he said after appearing in the US District Court for the District of Columbia. “More importantly, I want everybody to understand that I’m just working on my ‘Elon Musk’ EP. It’s coming out next month. I’m totally focused on that.

“I know Jho Low just like a lot of other people who know Jho Low, but I don’t have a relationship with Jho Low,” Michel claimed during a live interview with American media on Tuesday.

Model Gigi Hadid with Jho Low in New York City. Photo: AFP

On social media, reactions to the case ranged from derision to humour. “The Feds are killing them softly!” Tweeted @psuflyers24, recalling the Fugees’ cover of the classic song “Killing Me Softly With His Song”.

“You may know Pras for his ageless club banger Ghetto Superstar,’ wrote Twitter user @aps1776. “Well turns out he’s also a money launderer who funnelled foreign money illegally into Obama’s 2012 campaign.”

Federal prosecutors say foreign funds totalling more than US$21 million were funnelled by Low into the election, with some of the funds masked as legitimate campaign contributions through straw donors and others listed under Michel’s name.

Explained: Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal

Michel, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, wore a navy blue blazer, jeans and trainers for his first appearance before US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who will preside over the case.

His lawyer, Barry Pollack, told the judge he plans to file motions to dismiss the indictment, and intends to argue that prosecutors brought the charges well after the five-year statute of limitations had expired.

Michel remains free on bond and is permitted to travel to his homes in California and Florida.

Although he has sought permission to skip some of the less substantive hearings, Kollar-Kotelly warned Michel on Thursday that he should remain an active participant in his own defence.

Low remains at large and is also wanted by the US in a separate case in connection with a multibillion-dollar scandal at Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Can Mahathir run Malaysia’s economy without blaming ‘1MDB mess’?

The ongoing scandal involves former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, who is accused of funnelling 2.67 billion ringgit from the 1MDB fund into his own accounts. Low has been identified by Malaysian and US investigators as a central figure in the alleged fraud.
According to Malaysian authorities, part of the US$1.7 billion Low is alleged of embezzling has since been returned to the country by the American government.

“Malaysia has recovered US$322 million worth of 1MDB assets since the investigation into the 1MDB effective began,” Malaysian attorney general Tommy Thomas wrote in an official statement issued on May 7.

Meanwhile in Kuala Lumpur, a forfeiture hearing against Low’s family members and Najib to give the government legal control of the assets took place on Friday. Earlier this month, up to 1.1 billion ringgit worth of assets were seized from six Najib-linked properties.

Jho Low, rapper charged with illegally donating to election campaign

The items seized included 272 Hermes bags, 35 bags of cash worth 11.7 million ringgit, 26 vans, a house that belonged to Low’s mother, Goh Gaik Ewe, and 11,991 pieces of jewellery.

On May 2, American prosecutors said a US$1.7 million diamond jewellery set Low commissioned to be made by celebrity designer Lorraine Schwartz will be handed over to the US government.

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