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Senegalese-American music star Akon has found himself in legal trouble once again after being arrested in Georgia on an outstanding bench warrant related to a previously suspended driver’s license.
According to new legal documents obtained by TMZ, the Grammy-nominated singer — whose real name is Aliaune Thiam — was taken into custody in DeKalb County on Thursday, November 7, and briefly detained before being released later the same day.
Authorities say the warrant stemmed from an earlier incident that occurred in September 2024, when Akon was reportedly pulled over by police while driving a Tesla Cybertruck that had stalled in the middle of the road.
Police officers from the Chamblee Police Department stated that they were on routine patrol when they spotted the futuristic electric vehicle stranded along a Georgia roadway. Upon approaching the vehicle, officers identified Akon as the driver. The singer allegedly told them that the Cybertruck’s battery had died, leaving him stuck in traffic.
Officers then arranged for a tow truck to move the disabled vehicle. However, while waiting for the tow to arrive, one of the officers reportedly ran a background check and discovered that Akon’s driver’s license had been suspended due to a failure to appear in court from as far back as January 2023.
Following that discovery, police issued Akon a citation for driving with a suspended license but allowed him to leave the scene after completing the necessary paperwork.
In the same report, the responding officer also made an additional note regarding an item found in the car. “An illegal vape in the center console was seized during the inventory and submitted for destruction,” the officer wrote in his report.
While the situation initially appeared minor, things escalated weeks later when a bench warrant was issued for Akon’s arrest after he reportedly failed to appear in court as required.
Fast forward to November 7, and police officers executed the outstanding warrant, taking the “Locked Up” hitmaker into custody.
According to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Akon was arrested in the morning hours and booked into jail. The arrest was reportedly carried out by the Chamblee Police Department on what officials described as an out-of-county warrant.
Fortunately for the singer, the matter was resolved within hours. Sources told TMZ that Akon was released from custody approximately six hours after being booked, although it remains unclear whether he posted bail or was released on his own recognizance.
While the details surrounding the original warrant are still emerging, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Akon’s arrest was directly connected to the earlier traffic offense involving his suspended license.
As part of standard procedure, the singer posed for a mugshot during his brief time in jail. The photo, obtained by TMZ, shows Akon wearing a black hoodie and maintaining a mostly neutral expression.
This isn’t the first time the “Smack That” crooner has made headlines for run-ins with the law. Earlier in his career, Akon faced various controversies, including accusations related to onstage incidents and disputes over past business ventures. However, in recent years, he has focused more on humanitarian work and development projects across Africa, including his ambitious plan to build a futuristic city in Senegal known as Akon City.
Despite the recent setback, Akon has not publicly commented on the arrest. Fans, however, have flooded social media with mixed reactions — some expressing concern, while others jokingly referenced his 2004 breakout single “Locked Up.”
For now, it appears the 51-year-old singer is once again a free man, though he may still have to address the lingering legal issues tied to the case in court.
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