Democratic Republic Of Congo
African music star and Congolese rumba legend Koffi Olomide has again been arrested in his home country the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday morning.
This will be his second arrest in a week after the previous one in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, for kicking his female dancer in the stomach at the airport on their arrival for a concert. He was deported after spending the night in jail.
No reason was given for his arrest in Kinshasa but police have confirmed his arrest and processing for court.
“Koffi Olomide was arrested early this morning and will be interrogated by the prosecutor,” chief of Kinshasa police General Celestin Kanyama told AFP.
Sources at the court say the reason behind his arrest will be communicated soon but it was gathered that a complaint was filed against him by a Congolese MP, Zacharias Bababaswe.
“I went to the authorities because it is unacceptable that after this barbaric act against a woman, Koffi Olomide is received like a VIP by the DGM (Directorate General for Migration) even after that caused a worldwide outcry,” the MP told AFP.
“This will save the face of the poor dancer against Koffi who has contacts in the judiciary and the Congolese government,” he added.
Despite being caught on camera kicking the dancer, Olomide denied the claim and insisted that he was protecting his crew from an unspecified person who was threatening their security.
He later apologised for the act on Congolese television and on Facebook.
The Rumba star, who has more than 26 albums to his name, has a history of assault. In August 2012, the singer was slapped with a three months suspended prison sentence in Kinshasa for assaulting his producer.
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