Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky has been held in custody by law enforcement in Sweden since being arrested on suspicion of assault earlier this month. The rapper was held for two weeks while the investigation continued and was considered a flight risk.
But now, those two weeks are up. However, prosecutors have applied for another extension until July 25 to charge A$AP with a crime formally. The Stockholm District Court decided the rapper should remain in custody “because of the flight risk,” prosecutor Daniel Suneson said. “This gives us time to complete the investigation.”
Suneson said, “We have worked intensively with the investigation and need more time, until Thursday next week in order to complete the preliminary investigation.”
However, A$AP’s lawyer, Slobodan Jovicic, said in a statement that there’s no way his client would flee because he’s an international star and going on the lam would jeopardize his ability to tour and maintain his career.
The lawyer also said the video of the alleged victim attacking A$AP and his crew proves that A$AP tried to de-escalate the situation before things went left, and that this is really a case of a shoving match which at most should be punishable by probation.
A spokesperson for the State Department said, “There are certainly some facts about the arrest and detention that raise concerns. We expect all governments, including Sweden, to treat American citizens fairly and with respect. We hope to see A$AP Rocky and his colleagues back on tour and reunited with friends and family soon.”
