The rapper formerly known as Mos Def stood before a South African judge today (March 8) after the court originally turned him away for refusing to remove his turban, Yahoo reports. After taking off the headwear and returning with a scarf draped over his head, prosecutors were granted a two-week hearing postponement which leaves the Brooklyn native free on roughly $300 bail until his next court date on March 24.
Yasiin Bey appeared in reference to charges of false identity and “aiding and abetting his family to stay illegally in South Africa” following his Jan. 14 arrest. Bey was arrested in a South African airport after authorities said he displayed a “world passport” when trying to leave the country. According to reports, the 42-year-old is also accused of helping his family illegally remain in South Africa after their visas expired in April of 2014.
Shortly after news of his legal woes went public, Bey recorded a statement which was posted on Kanye West’s website and vehemently slammed the charges.
“I am currently in Cape Town South Africa and I am being prevented from leaving unjustly, unlawfully and without any logical reason,” he said in the audio.
In the same footage, Bey, who has been living in South Africa since 2013, said that he and his family are ready to leave the country in wake of the pending charges. “My family and I are prepared immediately to make whatever move that we need to make outside of this state, never to return to this state again.”