Friends weigh in on rapper Scribe's legal woes

Support is mounting for embattled rapper Scribe as he prepares to appear in court this morning on drug and weapon charges.

The 38-year-old, real name Malo Luafutu, was the subject of a public police hunt yesterday after it was revealed he had failed to appear in the Christchurch District Court last month.

On April 2 he was allegedly caught with an "offensive weapon" - a bat - in an east Christchurch street.

At the same time the singer and father was allegedly found to have in his possession a Class A controlled drug, namely amphetamine.

Court documents also allege he had a pipe "for the purpose of the commission of an offence against the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 namely consuming, smoking, using a Class A controlled drug namely amphetamine".

Police posted Luafutu's mug shot and details on their Facebook page and by the end of the day the alleged offender had contacted the court and was "no longer wanted".

He will appear in the Porirua District Court today.

Actress Teuila Blakely and rapper Scribe aka Malo Luafutu. Photo / NZME

Luafutu's actress pal Teuila Blakely has this morning defended him on Twitter.

She said she "didn't want to feed into the bullsh*t media frenzy" yesterday but felt she had to weigh in on Luafutu's troubles.

"Not many, if any have the privilege of knowing the man behind the name - the genius, the finesse, the kindness, the heart, the hurt nor the art," Blakely wrote.

"Those who have lived a life like his, that have reached the heights like his and the consequent lows like this, are the only people who can say sh*t about this.

"Aaand that's right, ain't no one like he.

"We ride or die in our family and families are forever.

"I love you the best, eff the rest."

Didn't want to feed the bullshit media frenzy on this yesterday.. So I let me bestie do what he does best.. Not many, if...

Posted by Teuila Blakely on Wednesday, 16 August 2017

Luafutu has had a well documented battle addiction over the years and has always been open about his personal issues.

In March he announced he was going to rehab, but was arrested for alleged drug offending in Christchurch just days later.

Luafutu has not responded to the Herald's request for comment.

However he posted a statement last night in response to his alleged offending.

"There are valid reasons I missed my court date," he wrote.

"Do I manufacture drugs? No.

"Do I sell drugs? No.

"Do I promote drug use? Never.

"Are there more dangerous criminals who deserve this attention? Yes.

"Have I made mistakes? Most certainly."

He said the frenzy around his non-appearance at court was "a distraction from what's really happening".

"I can take the consequences of my actions but I'm also a father and how this will affect my children is all I care about," Luafutu said.

"No offence to the police, but, do you need assistance finding me? Where am I gonna hide? I'm Scribe."