A SWEDISH PROSECUTOR has charged US rapper A$AP Rocky with assault over a fight in Stockholm last month, in a case that’s drawn the attention of fellow recording artists as well as US President Donald Trump.
Rocky, a platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated artist whose real name is Rakim Mayers, has been in custody since 3 July as authorities investigate a fight he was allegedly involved in on 30 June before appearing at a music festival.
Prosecutor Daniel Suneson said in a statement that he filed charges against the artist and two others “suspected of assault causing actual bodily harm, having come to the conclusion that the events in question constitute a crime and despite claims of self-defence and provocation.”
The three suspects will remain in custody until trial. The Stockholm District Court plans to announce next week when that will take place.
Videos published on social media appear to show a person being violently thrown onto the ground by Rocky, 30. A defence lawyer has said it was self-defence.
Suneson said he reached a different conclusion after studying videos.
“It is worth noting that I have had access to a greater amount of material than that which has previously been available on the internet,” he said.
In addition to video material, the injured party’s statements have been supported by witness statements.
Suneson added that there were initially two injured parties in the case, but the allegations concerning one of them were dropped due to “insufficient supporting evidence” and the charges relate to only one alleged victim. That person has not been identified.
A counter-allegation was made by the artist’s bodyguard against one of the alleged victims, but that case was closed earlier this week, the prosecutor said.
Sean Diddy Combs, Justin Bieber and Kris Jenner are some of the celebrities who have publicly expressed support for Rocky. The platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated artist has collaborated with Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B, Drake and Selena Gomez.
On Saturday, Trump said he spoke with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven about A$AP Rocky and “offered to personally vouch for his bail,” something that is not available under Swedish law.
Urged on by the first lady and celebrities including Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West, the president had said in a Friday tweet that he would intervene to try to free Rocky.
Lofven’s press secretary, Toni Eriksson, later said that the two leaders had a “friendly and respectful” conversation in which Lofven “made certain to emphasise the complete independence of the Swedish judicial system, prosecutors and courts” and stressed that the government cannot and will not attempt to influence the legal proceedings.
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