Friday, January 15, 2016

Yasiin Bey Arrested in South Africa


Brooklyn born rapper Yasiin Bey aka Mos Def has been arrested in South Africa for trying to leave the country using a fake passport...

From Yahoo News,
The American entertainer commonly known as Mos Def has 14 days to leave South Africa after he was arrested for violating local immigration laws while trying to leave the country, a government spokesman said Friday.
The rapper and actor, who now goes by the name Yasiin Bey, appeared in a South African court after he was arrested at Cape Town International airport on Thursday, said Department of Home Affairs spokesman Mayihlome Tshwete.
Mos Def produced an unrecognized "world passport" when he tried to leave the country, Tshwete said. The 42-year-old entertainer entered the country on an American passport in 2013 and overstayed his visitor's permit by 2014, the spokesman said.
A court order to leave the country means the rapper is banned from South Africa for five years, but may appeal to officials for leniency, Tshwete said. Mos Def appeared alongside family members who were also in the country without a permit, the spokesman said.
Fun Fact: Yasiin Bey was forced to cancel a tour in 2014 after being denied entry to the US  [click here if you missed that].