Jho Low paid US$20m for photo with Obamas: Rapper

Fugitive Jho Low paid rapper Pras Michel US$20 million for a photo with the then-US president Barack Obama in 2012.

According to Bloomberg, Michel - who is on trial for illegal lobbying - told the court that he was hired by Low as a "celebrity surrogate" who had access to Obama's fundraising dinner in Washington DC.

Michel said Jho Low's reputation was "too hot" to get an invitation, but he was willing to try for a fee.

"I basically asked for US$1 million to begin to think about how I would get this photo," he told the court, when questioned by his lawyer.

Eventually, Low paid Michel US$20 million (about RM89 million at the current exchange rate) over nine months and got his wish - a photograph of him flanked by Obama and his wife Michelle in front of a Christmas tree.

Party boy

Earlier in July 2012, Michel was involved in another fundraiser for Obama in Miami, Florida, where the entry was US$40,000 a head but was unsuccessful in convincing Obama's campaign team to invite Low.

Instead, Low's father - Larry Lau Hock Peng - sat next to Obama at one point during the event.

By 2012, Low had already established himself as a well-heeled international party boy, linked to the likes of Paris Hilton with a penchant for Cristal champagne and yachts.

At that time, 1MDB - a Finance Ministry-owned company where Low had influence over - had just raised US$1.75 billion through a bond arranged by US investment bank Goldman Sachs.

The sum was used by 1MDB to acquire energy assets but US prosecutors claim that 40 percent of the sum was siphoned for the personal benefit of officials at 1MDB and its associates.

READ MORE: The three phases of money laundering through 1MDB

US prosecutors have charged Michel with conspiring with Low, who was wanted by the US for stealing from 1MDB, money laundering, campaign finance violations, acting as an unregistered agent for foreign nations, witness tampering and lying to banks.

Michel faces another charge of lobbying officials from Donald Trump's administration to drop an investigation into Low.

So far, the trial has revealed Low's outings with US socialite Kim Kardashian and Riza Aziz - the stepson of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

The trial also revealed that 'The Wolf of Wall Street' star Leonardo DiCaprio met Najib through Low.

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