Singer Akon’s Georgia arrest linked to old suspended license case; mugshot surfaces online

Singer Akon, best known for his early 2000s hit Locked Up, was arrested in Georgia on November 7. According to court documents cited by TMZ, the 52-year-old artist, whose full name is Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam, was taken into custody in DeKalb County last Thursday.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest, stating that Akon was booked and later released. His mugshot, which surfaced soon after, quickly went viral across social media platforms, sparking a wave of online reactions.

Reports suggest that Akon’s arrest was linked to a bench warrant issued over his failure to appear in a case involving a suspended driver’s license. The incident reportedly dates back to September when he was driving a Tesla Cybertruck in Georgia. Police officers on patrol had noticed the vehicle stranded in the middle of the road.

Akon, who was behind the wheel, told officers that the truck’s battery had died. When police checked his license, they discovered it had been suspended due to a missed court appearance in January 2023. He was cited for driving with a suspended license but was allowed to leave after the vehicle was towed away.

During the same inspection, officers allegedly found what they described as an “illegal vape” in the car’s center console. The device was seized and submitted for destruction, according to the report.

The bench warrant remained active until early November when Akon was arrested by the Chamblee Police Department on an out-of-county warrant. He was booked into jail, stayed for about six hours, and was later released.

While it’s still unclear what specific charge the warrant addressed, the incident has stirred fresh conversation online. Interestingly, just two days after his brief detention, Akon travelled to India and performed live at a concert in Delhi on November 9.

Fans expressed surprise at how quickly he returned to the stage following the arrest. Neither Akon nor his representatives have issued an official statement about the case.