The drummer of German rock band Scorpions, who was jailed in Dubai last month for insulting Islam, has been freed and has returned to his home in the United States, the band has said on its official Facebook page.
James Kottak, a US national, was last month sentenced to one month in jail after being convicted of insulting Islam, raising his middle finger and being under the influence of alcohol while in transit at Dubai International Airport.
A post on the band’s Facebook page on Wednesday read: “James Kottak boarded a plane out of Dubai and arrived in the US last night. He will have to find the time to sort out his problems… Scorpions.”
James Kottak missed the band’s Bahrain Formula 1 race gig on April 5 after being arrested in Dubai.
According to reports, Kottak was arrested at Dubai airport on April 3 and was in transit to Bahrain from Russia. Kottak was also fined AED2,000.
He admitted to drinking, but denied gesturing indecently in public and cursing Muslims.
Kottak’s absence from the Bahrain gig when he was replaced by Mark Cross sparked questions on fan sites.
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