LONDON (AFP) — A British High Court judge ordered the immediate release of US rapper Busta Rhymes after he was detained by immigration officials at London City Airport Thursday.
Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor Smith, had arrived in Britain to play a charity concert for 5,000 young volunteers at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Friday.
"In all the circumstances it seems to me that he (Rhymes) is entitled to an order that he be released forthwith or alternatively is entitled to bail," Justice Julian Flaux said.
The charity event's organisers, mobile phone firm Ornage, said the rapper had been detained at the airport because he did not have permission to work in Britain due to his criminal record, though they insist he has a valid work permit.
In March, the rapper, whose hits include "Touch It," "Make It Clap" and "Pass The Courvoisier," was put on probation for three years, fined and ordered to do community service in New York after assaulting his former driver and a fan.
Stephen Greene, co-founder of concert organisers Orange RockCorps, said, before the court decision: "We're shocked at this sequence of events and this treatment of Busta.
"He has the necessary work-permit and has been in the country twice already this year, so we're a little puzzled that a question mark is now being placed over his ability to enter the country to perform to volunteers."
Fellow US rapper Ludacris had been added to the bill following Busta Rhymes' detention.
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