Yasiin Bey, fka Mos Def, appeared in court today outside of Cape Town to work out some legal details of his case. Bey was originally arrested for using a fraudulent passport and overstaying his artist’s visa by a few years. However, he ran into a hiccup when the judge would not allow him to appear while wearing his turban. The emcee reportedly left and then chose to return with a scarf draped loosely around his head.
The proceeding went quickly, as the state called the hearing to request a postponement of the official court hearing while they finish their investigation into the matter. Yasiin Bey’s lawyer, Shahied Schreuder, agreed to the postponement. The new court date has been set for March 24, only a few weeks away. Meanwhile, the rapper will continue to live in South Africa while out on bail.
Bey’s lawyer has been trying to soften the state’s impeding punishment for Yasiin Bey’s crime, saying that the Brooklyn emcee’s presence in the country has been beneficial to its arts industry. “Many more international celebrities are looking at South Africa as a destination of choice for retirement and business,” said Schreuder. “We need to encourage that.”
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