Although Senegalese-American singer Akon remains an active performer, he has been keeping a relatively low profile, having not released new music since his last album, “Akonda”, in 2019. That said, he has continued touring, performing for fans around the world, including in Malaysia. Despite stepping away from the mainstream spotlight, the “Smack That” artist recently found himself in trouble with the law.
For context, Akon has only one criminal conviction and a period of probation, despite previously claiming to have spent three years in prison for other alleged offences. Now, news is circulating that he may face another charge for driving with a suspended licence, but will he actually serve time or pay a fine? Here’s the story:
Akon was taken into custody by Chamblee Police in Georgia after reportedly failing to appear in court over a suspended driving licence case. According to reports, he was first arrested on 6th November on an out-of-county warrant from the Roswell Police Department in Georgia. He was released later the same day but was rebooked the following day, 7th November. The artist’s representative told People that he was released later that day.
Reports suggest that the warrant for his arrest was issued in September, when a police officer noticed a stranded Tesla Cybertruck with a dead battery. While waiting for the vehicle to be towed away, he discovered that the “Locked Up” singer’s licence had been suspended for failing to appear in court in January 2023.
Apparently, there has been a misunderstanding and a technical issue, as it was reported that Akon had actually paid for the suspended license. “Due to a clerical issue, the suspended license should never have been escalated; it was paid but not properly entered into the system. This will be soon rectified in the courts in early December,” a representative for the Grammy nominee told PEOPLE.
In other news, Akon’s wife Tomeka Thiam filed for divorce 2 months ago after 29 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. According to reports, she requested joint custody over their daughter, Journey and spousal support.
