A$AP Rocky To Stand Trial In Sweden
A$AP Rocky’s trial begins on Tuesday (July 30).
A$AP Rocky was charged earlier today (July 25) in Sweden with assault and causing bodily harm in an incident which took place on June 30 in Stockholm, according to the New York Times.
The prosecution will proceed “despite [A$AP Rocky’s] claims of self-defense and provocation,” Daniel Suneson,the public prosecutor for Stockholm, said according to the Times. He’ll remain in custody until the trial.
The punishment could include a fine based on his daily earnings or a maximum two years in prison, a spokeswoman for the Swedish Prosecution Authority, Annika Collin, said in a telephone interview with the Times.
Two members of Rocky’s entourage also face a trial.
Rocky, 30 (real name: Rakim Mayers) is accused of assaulting Mustafa Jafari in Stockholm on June 30 after an altercation in the street that was captured on video. A$AP Rocky and the two aforementioned members of his entourage were detained on July 5 as prosecutors investigated the matter.
A$AP Rocky’s lawyer says the rapper acted in self-defense. On July 2, Rocky posted two videos on Instagram that show Mr. Jafari following and harassing the rapper, despite being repeatedly asked to stop. However, the prosecutor said Mr. Jafari maintained that he had been attacked first. The prosecutor also said that he had more evidence than the video clips that A$AP Rocky has shared, including footage from security cameras and witness statements.
President Trump has even gotten involved in the case; he called Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven to discuss the issue.
Trump tweeted that he told the prime minister he would “personally vouch” for Rocky’s bail if he were released, although, according to the Times, Sweden has no system of bail, and usually keeps foreigners accused of crimes in detention because of the flight risk.
Mr. Lofven’s office said in a statement on Saturday that the prime minister insisted he would not intervene, and that “in Sweden everyone is equal before the law.”
