Biebs Could Be Banged To Rights After Rio Graffiti Gaffe

Justin Bieber faces arrest and possible imprisonment in Brazil after he allegedly sprayed graffiti on a wall in November 2013.

Bieber was charged with a 'crime against the city order and cultural heritage' when he sprayed on the walls of the Hotel Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, which is protected as a cultural heritage site.

Witnesses saw the then 19-year-old Bieber tag the wall of the heritage site with phrases such as, 'Bielibers 4 life' and 'respect privacy'.

Defacing any building is a crime in Brazil punishable by up to one year in jail or a fine. But the singer left the country before the Brazilian authorities could alert him to the charges.

Credit: PA

The case was then suspended after the Canadian star left the country to continue his Believe tour. However, as he lands in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday for one of three Brazil shows Judge Rudi Lowenkron has ruled to reopen the case.

In a statement, the Public Prosecution Service in Rio said: "With the news that the singer will be returning to Brazil, the Prosecution Service requested that the court issue a writ of summons in his name.

"The request is so that the accused is made aware of the charges."

Credit: PA

Prosecutors will officially notify him of the charges when he arrives in the country, where a court clerk will meet Bieber at the airport and ask him to sign a document confirming the receipt of the charges.

According to Lowenkron's order, if Bieber refuses, 'police force' can be used where necessary.

While minor infractions in the Brazilian city often go unpunished, authorities track-history of making examples of high-profile foreigners who flaunt the country's laws.

Credit: PA

During last summer's Olympic Games, American swimmer Ryan Lochte was charged with filing a false robbery report after he and three other swim team members said they had been held up at gunpoint.

After Lochte fled the country, James Feigen was only allowed to leave Brazil after paying a $10,800 (£8,500) fine.

So it could be the case that Biebs is banged to rights.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: rio, Justin Bieber

James Dawson

James Dawson is a Journalist at LADbible. He has contributed articles to LADbible’s ‘Knowing Me, Knowing EU’ series on the EU referendum, the 'Electoral Dysfunction' series on the 2017 general election, the ‘U OK M8?’ series tackling mental health amongst young men, and for its ‘Climate Change’ initiative in partnership with National Geographic.

@thejaytoday