Has anyone else noticed how many times Akon has had to say 'sorry' in the last few years? And after the singer pleaded guilty to second-degree harassment he's had to say it again, this time to the punter he threw off stage. In exchange, the courts have gone easy on him, slapping him with a token $400 fine and 65 hours of anti-gang and anti-violence community service.

The trouble began back in June 2007 at a concert in New York. The victim was apparently heckling Akon and in response, the singer had him pulled onto the stage by security. He then threw the kid over his shoulders and back out into the crowd giving another patron a concussion. All of this was caught on tape and didn't amuse police when they saw the footage. Or the kids parents.

Coincidentally, Akon is currently promoting his third studio album, 'Freedom'. It's filed with up-tempo club tracks and has met with mixed reviews. Not that he's particularly worried; Akon's part owner in a diamond mine in Africa and refuses to believe in the concept of blood diamonds. "I don't even believe in conflict diamonds. That's just a movie. Think about it. Ain't nobody thought about nothing about no conflict diamonds until the movie came out".

Awesome logic, there Akon!

Copyright : MTV Australia