Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) false passport case postponed for second time

The rapper was arrested earlier this year on suspicion of using a false passport and illegally helping his family stay in South Africa

Yasiin Bey’s court case centred around charges of using a false passport in South Africa has been postponed for a second time.

The rapper – who went by the name Mos Def until he renamed himself in late 2011 – was arrested at Cape Town airport in January, according to South African Department of Home Affairs spokesman Mayihlome Tshwete. He is said to have tried to depart on an unrecognised ‘world passport’.

As well as using false travel documents, Bey was charged with illegally helping his family to stay in South Africa.

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The case against him was meant to go to court on March 8, but prosecutors requested it be postponed so they could finish their investigation. A hearing took place today (March 24), but resulted in another delay.

NMEPress

Pitchfork reports that this time the rapper’s attorneys called for things to be postponed so they could gather more information from the prosecutors.

One of Bey’s team described the case as “complicated but simple at the same time”, as it involves US authorities and those from other countries too.

The new hearing date is set for May 12. Bey is currently out on bail for 5,000 rands (£227 approximately).

Shortly after his arrest , a recording of a voice message by Bey was posted on Kanye West’s website overnight. Dubbed ‘No More Parties in SA’, a riff on West’s new track ‘No More Parties In LA’, the freestyle sees Bey say “I have committed no crime, the state must be out of their mind”, among other claims of his innocence.

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