Acclaimed rapper Freddie Gibbs will remain incarcerated in Toulouse, France for another week after authorities postposed a planned extradition to Austria. French authorities arrested Gibbs for alleged rape last week on European warrant issued by Austria in 2015.
French police took Gibbs into custody on June 2, minutes before he was scheduled to perform at Toulouse’s Le Rex. Gibbs’ arrest forced him to immediately cancel planned tour appearance in Vienna. He had planned to wrap up the European leg of his tour in Portugal before returning to the United States for another string of shows.
Gibbs’ extradition was supposed to be held on June 8, but has been delayed until June 14. His legal team currently is working toward arranging a bail hearing, but has not yet accomplished this goal.
The Shadow of a Doubt rapper’s legal team says Gibbs will resist unlawful attempts at extradition to Austria. Attorney Scott Leemon said Gibbs would fight extradition attempts as the rape allegations are “nothing more than trumped up charges.”
Gibbs’ primary lawyer Michael Malka clarified his resistance to extradition in a resent hearing.
“Freddie Gibbs has indicated to the court that he would not be willing to be handed over to Austrian authorities without exercising his rights to a defense,” Malka said.
Leemon expressed confusion over the delay in levying charges against Gibbs.
“Freddie Gibbs adamantly denies the allegations that have been levied against by Austrian authorities,” Leemon said. “It makes you wonder why it took almost a year for Austrian officials to bring these charges.”
Updated (06/17/16)
French authorities have ordered Freddie Gibbs released on bail set at €50,000 ($56,000), according to his lawyer, AFP reports (via the Daily Mail). Gibbs’ bail prevents France from extraditing him to Austria, where he faces rape charges issued in 2015. The rapper’s legal team issued the following statement.
“I am pleased to announce that the French attorneys, Ludovic Riviere and Michael Malka, were able to convince the Judge in Toulouse to release Freddie Gibbs on bail pending a final decision on the extradition request by the Austrian authorities. He will be released upon the deposit of $50,000 Euros. He will be required to turn in his passport and check in with authorities 3 times per week. We expect him to be released either today or tomorrow while the court decides what to do with the extradition request. Additionally, last weekend, I had the chance to fly to France and meet with Freddie and the attorneys from both France and Austria. After the meeting, and talking to Freddie it is really shocking these allegations were ever filed against him. They were brought months later with no scientific nor physical evidence against him. We are hoping that the Public Prosecutor in Austria sees this and decides not to file formal charges against him. If she does, Freddie will fight them with everything he has.
He has worked too hard on his career and family to get where he is and is in complete shock over this false allegation.
It is important to note that his fiancé has flown to France to support him. She has his back and knows he didn’t do anything wrong.”
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