Sweden says the government will not get involved in A$AP Rocky case, saying courts independent

Published on 25/07/2019 - 10:44•Updated 26/07/2019 - 15:33

US rapper A$AP Rocky has been charged along with two others for assault over a fight that happened in Sweden last month.

Sweden repudiated an angry outburst from US President Donald Trump after prosecutors charged US rapper A$AP Rocky with assault, saying the Swedish judicial system is independent of political interference.

The 30-year-old star — whose real name is Rakim Mayers — was charged with aggravated assault on Thursday over a fight that happened in Stockholm last month.

He has been detained since July 5 and will remain in custody until trial.

Two others have also been charged with assault.

In a news conference on Thursday, defence lawyer Slobodan Jovicic said that while the indictment was not a "big surprise", Mayers was "suffering".

Meanwhile, Stockholm public prosecutor Daniel Suneson confirmed on Thursday that he had begun criminal proceedings against the trio for "assault causing actual bodily harm".

He added: "The events in question constitute a crime and despite claims of self-defence and provocation."

Videos of the incident, which happened on June 30, show several altercations between Mayers's entourage and two men.

One widely shared video captured by a witness appears to show the rapper grabbing and launching a man across the floor, before the entourage step in and beat the man.

Mayers also posted footage of part of the incident to his Instagram account, which shows his bodyguard asking the two men to leave them alone, before one man appears to attack the guard with his headphones.

The men then continue to follow the group.

In the video, Mayers is heard telling the men: "We don't want to fight you, we're not trying to go to jail."

Turning to the camera in a later shot, Mayers adds: "We don't want no problems with these boys; they keep following us."

Suneson said in his statement on Thursday that he had studied the circulating videos, and reminded the public that he had access to a greater breadth of information than what was available on the internet.

"In addition to video material, the injured party's statements have been supported by witness statements," he said.

On Thursday, Trump tweeted he was "very disappointed" in Lofven and demanded that he "treat Americans fairly!"

Trump added: "We do so much for Sweden but it doesn't seem to work the other way around. Sweden should focus on its real crime problem! #FreeRocky."

A spokesman for the Swedish government told Reuters the government would not get involved in the case.

"Sweden and Prime Minister Stefan Lofven have been very clear in the dialogue with both the White House and directly with the American president, that in Sweden everyone is equal before the law and that the government cannot interfere in legal proceedings," the spokesman said in a text message.