Details have emerged regarding the recent arrest of singer Akon in Georgia, as police have provided more information about the incident.
The artist, known for hits like ‘Smack That’, was reportedly detained on November 7 by the Chamblee Police Department due to a warrant issued from Roswell.
Akon, whose full name is Aliaune Thiam, was booked around midday and spent approximately six hours in the county jail. He was released at 6:30 PM after processing.
Jail records indicate that the singer, officially named Aliaune Badara Akon Thiam, was apprehended due to an out-of-county warrant.
A Chamblee Police warrant explained that officers were responding to an alert for a ‘flock-warrant person’ regarding a white Tesla truck, as the vehicle’s registered owner was wanted by the Roswell Police Department.
The situation involved Akon’s Tesla lacking valid insurance, and officials also discovered he had an illegal vape in his possession.
The incident report mentioned that Akon was wanted due to driving with a suspended license two months prior.
In September, the Roswell Police Department found the singer stranded by the roadside because his Tesla Cybertruck had a dead battery. After his car was towed, it was discovered that his license was suspended for failing to appear in court in January 2023.
Following the arrest, a representative for Akon informed the Independent: “Due to a clerical issue the suspended license should have never been escalated, it was paid but not properly entered into the system. This will be soon rectified in the courts in early December.”
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest to TMZ, which detailed that the ‘Locked Up’ rapper had his mugshot taken while wearing a black hoodie, appearing ‘mostly expressionless’.
The 52-year-old reportedly ‘remained calm’ and acknowledged ‘he was aware of the warrant’ before being handcuffed.
This arrest happened while Akon was in the midst of his tour in India, having performed in Delhi on November 9. The R&B artist is scheduled to perform in Bengaluru on Friday, November 14, followed by a show in Mumbai on November 16.
After his current tour in India, Akon is expected to return to the US on January 3 of the coming year.
Beyond his musical career, Akon has established the Konfidence Foundation, a charity supporting underprivileged children in Africa.
UNILAD has previously reached out to Akon’s representatives, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, and the Roswell Police Department for comments regarding the arrest.