T.I - TI RELEASED ON $3BN BAIL

TI RELEASED ON $3BN BAIL

American rapper TI has been released on $3 billion (£1.5 billion) bail at an Atlanta court.

The 27-year-old is facing three federal weapons offence charges after being arrested in his hometown last a fortnight ago.

Each charge comes with a ten-year jail sentence, but the rapper – real name Clifford Harris – denies committing any offence.

TI made victory signs and smiled as he left court yesterday, despite being told by Judge Alan Baverman that he must remain at his home in Henry County, Georgia, throughout the trial and wear an electronic tag.

"I look forward to getting this [case] behind me and moving forward," he told reporters.

Earlier, Judge Baverman had told him: "You are going to be under home incarceration that is going to be governed by an active GPS at your cost."

TI's publicist has already confirmed that the artist will continue recording at his home-based studio.

The rapper was arrested on October 13th by federal police officers on the same day he was due to perform at the BET hip-hop awards, at which he won two gongs out of the nine categories he was nominated in.

He is accused of ordering his bodyguard to buy three machine guns and silencers. Owing to a nine-year-old drug conviction TI is banned from owning or buying firearms.