FBI questions DiCaprio about charity fraud

Leonardo DiCaprio has been questioned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over his charity’s alleged ties to a $3.5 billion (Dh12 billion) Malaysian embezzlement scandal whose “misappropriated” funds were used to bankroll his 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street, according to reports. The actor is facing calls to “give the dirty money back”.

The complaint also alleges that millions more were funnelled to Riza Aziz, the stepson of the Malaysian prime minister, whose production company Red Granite Pictures funded The Wolf of Wall Street. Though not directly targeted, DiCaprio is named as “Hollywood Actor 1” in a 136-page complaint filed by the US department of justice.

According to Le Temps, a Swiss daily, the FBI questioned Di Caprio. This week, the Bruno Manser Funds, a rainforest charity active in Malaysian Borneo, called on DiCaprio to return money connected to 1MDB. Lukas Straumann, its executive director, told The Hollywood Reporter: “That is dirty money, and he should pay it back.” Representatives for DiCaprio and LDF did not provide a requested comment.