WESLEY SNIPES - SNIPES DETAINED IN SOUTH AFRICA

Hollywood star WESLEY SNIPES was held against his will in a South African airport last month (JUN05) after trying to leave the country using a fake passport.

The BLADE actor was attempting to return to his home in the United States on 1 June when immigration officials decided to detain him at Johannesburg International Airport.

The star entered the country hassle free on 23 May (05) but the computer system later rejected his passport identity number alerting officials to the possibility the passport was false.

Home Affairs spokeswoman Nkosana Sibuyi says, "He explained that he had applied for the South African documents for himself and his family through his American attorneys.

"During the interview it was established that Mr Snipes did have fraudulent South African documentation in his possession.

"Mr Snipes and his attorney agreed to cooperate with the Inspectorate of the National Immigration Branch in their investigation in this matter. During this interview it transpired that Mr Snipes was in possession of a valid American passport."

The actor was later allowed to exit the country but his immigration status has been reduced to 'undesirable' and the false passport confiscated.