The Wolf of Wall Street producer arrested in Malaysia corruption scandal
The Hollywood producer of The Wolf of Wall Street has been arrested after his firm was linked to a multi-billion dollar corruption scandal.
Riza Aziz was a co-founder of Hollywood production firm Red Granite Pictures, which was behind the Oscar-nominated film starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
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Red Granite Pictures has been linked to losses from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state fund.
Riza was arrested on money-laundering charges, officials of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said.
Riza is the stepson of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, who founded 1MDB in 2009, and is now facing 42 criminal charges related to losses at the fund. He has pleaded not guilty.
US prosecutors have claimed that Red Granite financed The Wolf of Wall Street using the allegedly stolen funds, as well as Dumb and Dumber To and Daddy’s Home, the New York Times reported.
1MDB is being investigated in at least six countries for alleged money laundering.
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Based on a true story, The Wolf of Wall Street centres on the life of Wall Street trader Jordan Belfort and his subsequent fraud conviction.
DiCaprio won a Golden Globe for his starring role.