UPDATE 1-Swedish prosecutor will not push for tougher A$AP Rocky sentence
- Country:
- Sweden
A Swedish prosecutor said on Tuesday he would not push for tougher punishment for U.S. rapper A$AP Rocky who got a suspended sentence for his role in a brawl in Stockholm.
A$AP Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers, and two of his entourage were convicted on Aug. 14 of kicking and beating a 19-year-old man after an argument. They were allowed to fly home without serving a jail sentence - an outcome cheered by U.S. President Donald Trump who had asked Sweden's prime minister to intervene in the case.
"I believe the act should have resulted in a somewhat harsher punishment ... but I have decided nevertheless after due consideration not to appeal the verdict," prosecutor Daniel Suneson said in a statement. Mayers, who told the court he acted in self-defense during the confrontation in June, was held in detention for a month before the trial.
Trump had asked Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven to help free the rapper and offered to post his bail. Sweden does not have a bail system and Lofven said he could not influence Sweden's independent judiciary. Mayers, best known for his song "Praise the Lord", had been in Stockholm for a concert at the time of the fight. He had to cancel several shows across Europe due to his detention.
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