A rising Australian rapper has been accused of taking part in the gang rape of a drunk, sleeping woman two years ago.
Emmanuel Amankwah, who performs as Manu Crooks, has been charged with aggravated sexual assault in company occasioning actual bodily harm following a complaint from a woman about a night in Sydney in 2022, it was reported The Daily Telegraph.
Amankwah, 31, from Lidcombe in Sydney’s west, is in a relationship with well-known Sydney singer and hip-hop dancer Amarni, who was reportedly by his side as he appeared at Parramatta Bail Court on Thursday.
A prosecutor told the court the woman could not consent because she was drunk and asleep when the alleged offence took place and she was left with bruises.
The court heard that four men, including Amankwah, were allegedly involved and that one of them had made ‘some admissions’ about that night.
But Amankwah’s lawyer, Abdul Lazki, said there were some serious flaws in the case.
“The complaint was made, firstly, almost two years after the fact, but more importantly, in circumstances where the complainant was very intoxicated and there is reference to significant drug use,” Mr Lazki told the court.
A witness says they saw it [my client] leave the bedroom [and] He tells me he was not actually in the bedroom at the time the alleged incident occurred.”
Sydney rapper Manu Crooks (left) has been accused of sexual assault at his company and was supported in court by his girlfriend, singer and hip-hop dancer Amarni (right).
In his bail application, Mr Lazki said his client would be “vulnerable” in custody and could be confident he would reappear.
“He has significant ties to the community, his partner is in court and the fact sheet lists him as a musician and a well-known online personality,” Mr Lazki said.
He also noted that there was no criminal history.
However, Magistrate Michael Stoddart said he did not believe a case had been shown why Amankwah should be granted bail as the alleged offense was ‘very serious’ and, if convicted, he would likely be sentenced to a significant prison term.
Both Amarni and Manu Crooks (depicted in music videos) have performed in Australia and abroad and have cited the Atlanta music scene in the US as an influence.
Amankwah, who moved from Ghana to Australia at the age of 12, released his debut EP as Manu Crooks in 2017, gaining cult status and praise from former BBC DJ and music critic Zane Lowe.
He has performed at festivals in Australia including Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival and in the US at the Rolling Loud festival in Miami.
Her friend Amarni is also a well-known artist with hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Her 2022 song ‘Beyonce’ was among the top five most popular songs on Instagram that year.
She has performed at festivals in Australia, including the Electric Lunar Festival, and also abroad, including on late night television in Brazil.
Amankwah will remain in custody until his next hearing on August 22 at Downing Center District Court.