
Audio By Carbonatix
US President Donald Trump has demanded that Sweden "give ASAP Rocky his freedom" in a series of tweets. The musician, real name Rakim Myers, has been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm in Stockholm. He will remain in custody until a trial takes place. Mr Trump said on Twitter that Sweden had "let our African American community down". ASAP was arrested on 3 July following a fight that was captured on video.Two other men who were with them at the time have also been charged with assault. The musician says that his group was being followed by a group of men and he acted in self-defence. Donald Trump said last week that he had spoken to Swedish prime minister Stefan Lofven about ASAP's case.However, on Thursday the president wrote that he was "very disappointed" in Mr Lofven for being "unable to act" and urged him to "treat Americans fairly".
A spokesperson for Mr Lofven responded by saying that the Swedish judicial system, prosecutors and courts were independent, the government was not allowed to influence legal proceedings and "everyone is equal before the law".Daniel Suneson, the Swedish prosecutor in charge of the case said that he had not spoken to any White House representatives or any representatives of the Swedish government while investigating the case. He added that there was "an obvious risk that these three suspects would leave the country if they were released".On Wednesday, the rapper's mother pleaded for the release of her son. Renee Black told Swedish newspaper Expressen that ASAP "isn't really eating properly."Other celebrities such as Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West have also called for ASAP's release. More than 500,000, including fellow artists Nicki Minaj and Post Malone, have signed an online petition calling for the rapper to be released on bail.The trial is due to start on 30 July.Give A$AP Rocky his FREEDOM. We do so much for Sweden but it doesn”™t seem to work the other way around. Sweden should focus on its real crime problem! #FreeRocky
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2019
How ASAP Rocky's arrest unfolded
A video published online appears to show ASAP Rocky punching another man in the street.In videos posted to ASAP Rocky's Instagram afterwards, he and the people he's with repeatedly tell a pair of men to stop following them.One of the men accuses the 30-year-old's team of breaking his headphones.In the caption for the first video ASAP Rocky writes: "We don't know these guys and we didn't want trouble. They followed us for four blocks."In the second, he accuses the man of hitting his security guard "in the face with headphones".The 30-year-old was in Stockholm to perform at Smash festival.DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
GIPC woos Canadian investors for value addition in key industrial sectors
11 minutes -
Up to 90% of children with sickle cell risk early death without timely care — Dr Bankas warns
28 minutes -
Haruna Iddrisu empowers GES to clamp down on post-WASSCE celebrations in schools
33 minutes -
NACOC arrests three in Volta Region cannabis production and storage raid
43 minutes -
PAC Vice Chair raises alarm over stalled corruption prosecutions, calls for stronger enforcement
45 minutes -
Compassion International graduates urged to avoid deviant behaviour as they transition to independent life
59 minutes -
GES to set up committee to regulate celebrations on SHS campuses
1 hour -
School environment is for learning, not post-WASSCE celebrations – Haruna Iddrisu
1 hour -
School heads risk removal over extravagant student celebrations GES warns
1 hour -
Gov’t moves to tackle student misconduct as education minister announces national forum
1 hour -
Haruna Iddrisu extends ban on lavish school celebrations to all schools in Ghana
1 hour -
Keir Starmer resigns as prime minister and leader of Labour Party
1 hour -
From London to Accra: The UK-Ghana growth partnership in action
2 hours -
Six dead, 34 rescued in multiple road crashes across Volta Region on Sunday
2 hours -
NCPTA’s Deafening Silence: How parental failure, moral decay and social media excesses are turning Ghana’s schools into theatres of indiscipline
2 hours