Star Congolese rumba singer Koffi Olomide, who was expelled from Kenya after allegedly kicking one of his dancers, was freed on bail Saturday in the Democratic Republic of Congo, his lawyer said.
The entertainer, who has recorded 26 albums, was thrown out of Kenya on July 23 where he was due to stage a concert after being filmed on arrival in Nairobi the day before, kicking out and lunging at one of his dancers.
“Prosecutors granted bail to Koffi Olomide because he does not present a flight risk,” said Benoit Tayeye, one of his lawyers. “The defence has shown that the singer has a known residence, is a famous music star and his principal interests are here in DRC.”
Authorities from the prosecutor’s office confirmed Olomide’s release from a Kinshasa jail, adding that the criminal case would not be dropped. The singer was charged Tuesday with assault and battery.
Neither the defence team nor the prosecution gave details about the bail fee.
Video footage of the incident went viral. A lawyer for Olomide said previously the singer was in fact trying to step in to resolve a dispute between his dancers and that his foot had slipped.
In August 2012, Koffi Olomide was handed a three-month suspended prison sentence for assaulting his producer.
If found guilty of kicking the dancer he will face between eight days and six months in jail.
AFP