TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

A$AP Rocky spared jail after being found guilty of Stockholm brawl

Johan Ahlander (Reuters)
Stockholm, Sweden
Thu, August 15, 2019

Share This Article

Change Size

A$AP Rocky spared jail after being found guilty of Stockholm brawl A$AP Rocky performs during the 42nd American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California, on November 23, 2014. (REUTERS/Mario Anzuon)

U

S rapper A$AP Rocky was convicted in Sweden on Wednesday of assault over a Stockholm street brawl, but spared time in jail after a high-profile trial that had led President Donald Trump to accuse Sweden of treating him unfairly.

A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, and two members of his entourage were found guilty of kicking and beating 19-year-old Mustafa Jafari after an argument. But the court said allegations they hit him with a glass bottle, which might have brought a tougher sentence, were not proven.

"In an overall assessment, the court finds that the assault has not been of such a serious nature that a prison sentence must be chosen," Senior Judge Per Lennerbrant told a courtroom packed with reporters.

In a comment posted on Instagram, Mayers said he was disappointed with the verdict and that it had been a difficult time.

"Imma keep moving forward," he said. "Thank you to my team, my management, attorneys, label and everyone who advocated for justice."

The rapper, who shot to fame with his 2011 debut Live.Love.A$AP, was not court for the verdict. He was released on Aug. 2 after 31 days in jail and a three-day trial, in what legal experts said at the time was a sign the judge was likely not to jail him further.

The court said the fact that the defendants had no prior convictions over the past five years and had already spent time in custody awaiting trial meant they would not serve further time in prison or pay any fine.

Prosecutor Daniel Suneson told Reuters he had not yet decided whether he would appeal any part of the verdict.

"The court has been of the same view as myself, with one big exception, which is whether or not a blow was dealt with a glass bottle," he said. "Beyond that I feel the court made an accurate assessment."

Slobodan Jovicic, Mayers' Swedish lawyer, told reporters that despite the verdict, the court had ruled in favor of his client regarding some aspects of the case.

"We didn't succeed all the way but on the other hand we got many points proven," he said, adding that he had contacted his client about the verdict via text message and would speak to him later on Wednesday.

Read also: Verdict due in A$AP Rocky's assault trial

Self-defense

The case drew global attention, particularly after Trump offered to vouch for the rapper's bail and asked Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven to help free him. Sweden does not have a bail system and Lofven pointed to Sweden's independent judiciary saying he could not intervene.

Trump tweeted messages saying he was disappointed in Lofven and demanding: "Treat Americans fairly!"

Other celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Rod Stewart, had also spoken out in support of the rapper.

During the trial, both the defense and prosecution made liberal use of video taken on mobile phones during the altercation. The prosecution said that after an argument, Mayers threw Jafari to the ground, after which he and the two others kicked and punched the teenager.

Mayers said he acted in self defense after the teenager attacked his bodyguard.

The court said it had been proven that the artist and two of his party had hit and kicked the plaintiff as he lay on the ground, and discounted their claims of self-defense.

Mayers, best known for his song "Praise the Lord", had been in Stockholm for a concert at the time of the fight. He had to cancel several shows across Europe due to his detention.

He is due in neighboring Finland on August 16 to play the Blockfest festival in Tampere.

{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.