Former Fugees rapper Pras Michel is

officially

on trial in Washington, D.C., after pleading not guilty to participating in a global campaign finance conspiracy in 2019.

Jury selection began Monday in the trial of the Grammy-winning musician charged with conspiracy to commit murder, according to NPR.

a

fugitive Malaysian

financier financier known as

Jho Low to covertly funnel money to the former president

Barak

Obama’s 2012 campaign.

Michel also faces a civil complaint of fact over his involvement in a plan to block the Justice Department’s investigation into embezzlement of Malaysian investment fund 1MDB. The founding member of 1990s hip-hop group The Fugees has denied any allegations.

Backstory: The global financial scandal that has spread from Malaysia to Hollywood

Mr Michel is extremely disappointed that so many years after the government filed charges related to campaign contributions in 2012, Barry Pollack, a lawyer representing Michel, said in 2019. Mr Michel is innocent of these charges and looks forward to taking the case handled by a jury.

Michel’s case will indeed be heard by a jury in a trial that

said NPR

is expected to last much of April

said NPR

.

In May 2019, the Justice Department indicted Michel on four counts related to his alleged attempts to make and conceal foreign campaign donations in collusion with Low. Low is said to be hiding somewhere in China, but is not on trial with Michel, according to NPR.

After a long hiatus, the Fugees reunite for the Score anniversary tour

Have prosecutors

supposedly

that Low has been transferred

more than $21.6 million

from foreign entities to Michel’s accounts

. more than $21.6 million, of which t T

Hi”

Ghetto Supastar

hitmaker

Than

reportedly handed out

the funds

between different channels and straw donors so they could contribute to Obama’s re-election campaign without the source of the

finances money

.

The Justice Department has also accused Michel of opening bank accounts under false pretenses while working with Low.

Since his 2019 indictment, Michel has been active on the music scene, joining forces with fellow Fugees alumni Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill for an international reunion tour in late 2021. The Fugees are known for hits like “Ready or Not,” ” Killing Me Softly with His Song’, ‘Fu-Gee-La’, ‘No Woman, No Cry’ and ‘Zealots’.

In a 2018 statement to the Washington Post, Michel proclaimed his innocence and insisted that his name was wrongfully “slurred”.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.