Details of sick prank revealed

Police in South Africa were asked to help arrest the comic over the sick allegations , thought to have been generated by an American reality TV show.

The programme-makers sent out letters purporting to be from the ‘International Police Association’ and asking for him to be detained.

However Rock got wind of the claims, and obtained a court order to prevent police arresting him unless they had the correct warrant.

Local media reports say the TV producers even sent an actor to the Johannesburg court, posing as a prosecutor, to level the charges and urge that Rock be taken into custody.

The maximum sentence for the statutory rape of a minor in South Africa is lifetime imprisonment.

Despite the seriousness of the allegations, they are still being treated as a joke, rather than malicious.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Tlali Tlali told the Associated Foreign Press news wire service: ‘It was a hoax, it was for one of the US reality television programmes. This one went far, it must have been organised quite carefully.’

It is not known which TV show was behind the accusations, but those involved could now face contempt of court charges.

Rock was in South Africa touring his No Apologies tour, following his visit to Britain.

Published: 9 Jun 2008