The NGO also urged them to return to the people of Malaysia all monies they received from 1MDB.
BMF has also sent a letter to Swiss bank Julius Baer, the main bank linked to the Leonardo DiCaprio foundation. The letter asks about due diligence on the acceptance of donations from Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) in Malaysia.
BMF was revealing, in a statement, that it sent letters ten days ago, reminding DiCaprio and his foundation that they had received funds siphoned from 1MDB. The letter cited their dealings with Jho Low, Tan Kim Loong and Red Granite Pictures.
“Our call has been taken up by numerous media around the world,” said BMF in the statement.
The media reportedly includes The Hollywood Reporter, The Guardian, Fox News, CBS News, El Pais, La Repubblica, and Milliyet, among others.
French TV station TF1 broadcast a special 8 minute piece.
DiCaprio and his foundation should never have accepted funds linked to corruption in Malaysia, said BMF.
It said that long-term experience in Borneo, as outlined in the book, “Money Logging l”, (www.money-logging.org), has shown that corruption has become the main driver of rainforest destruction in South East Asia.
BMF said it recognizes the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation’s important role in supporting rainforest protection and indigenous rights.