American hip-hop artist and actor Mos Def slept in a Cape Town jail last night after he was arrested following a clash at Cape Town International Airport. Immigration officials alerted airport police after an altercation around the 42-year-old star’s passport last Saturday, and he was arrested in Sea Point on Thursday.
He was detained with charges relating to a “fraudulent passport”.
An official told City Press that he was in the country illegally and was set to be deported.
The matter is unfolding at the Belville Magistrates’ Court where he is expected to apply for bail this afternoon.
Mos Def, also known as Yasiin Bey, is well known for roles in films such as The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Italian Job and Brown Sugar. He portrayed Brother Sam in the Showtime drama series Dexter.
* The article was updated to reflect that Mos Def was arrested in Sea Point and not at Cape Town International Airport.