A bench warrant has been issued for the immediate arrest of Sierra Leonean rapper and former Entertainment Ambassador, Amara Denis Turay, popularly known as Kao Denero, following his failure to appear in court to answer to charges of incitement and aggravated assault.

The charges stem from an alleged attack on fellow musician Famous and his team — an incident that has since sparked public and industry-wide debate.

Kao Denero was expected to appear in court on Monday but failed to show up. His legal team previously informed the court that he was suffering from high blood pressure and had been admitted to the 34 Military Hospital. It was later claimed that he had traveled to the United States for further medical treatment.

However, the court dismissed the submitted medical report as unauthentic and inadmissible, raising questions about the credibility of the explanation provided for his absence. The judge, citing deliberate evasion of the legal process, ordered the issuance of a bench warrant to compel his arrest and ensure his appearance before the court.