BEANIE SIGEL - SIGEL'S SPEEDY CAR RECOVERY

Rapper BEANIE SIGEL persuaded a friend to rescue his Maserati from a car pound - just hours before it was due to go under the hammer at auction. A pal of the hip hop star, real name Dwight Grant, paid approximately $1,700 (GBP850) in outstanding tickets to free the 2005 Maserati from a Philadelphia parking pound. Twelve hours later it was sold at auction. The car was booted and towed in South Philadelphia a month ago (12Nov07), according to AllHipHop.com. A Philadelphia Parking Authority spokeswoman could not identify who picked up Sigel's Maserati, but did confirm it had been recovered. The rap star is no stranger to car troubles; he was charged with stealing a rental car when he failed to return the vehicle on time in September (07).