Borat actor Sacha Baron Cohen offers to pay mankini tourist fines

The six tourists were arrested in the country for wearing the character's iconic costume 

Jacob Stolworthy
Tuesday 21 November 2017 14:20 GMT
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Borat actor Sacha Baron Cohen has "offered to pay fines" for six tourists who were arrested in Kazakhstan for wearing the character's iconic mankini.

The unlucky Czech tourists had posed for photos in the country's capital city of Astana ahead of being slapped with the fine of 22,500 Tenge ($67; £51) earlier this month.

“To my Czech mates who were arrested. Send me your details and proof that it was you, and I'll pay your fine,” Baron Cohen - whose other characters include Ali G and Bruno - wrote on Facebook after sharing an initial report on the news story.

The English comedian sparked controversy after appearing as the character in hit 2006 comedy Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, facing threats of legal action.

Despite Kazakhstan banning the film, the country's foreign minister later thanked Baron Cohen for boosting tourism.

In 2012, mankinis were banned in Cornish resort Newquay in what was later deemed a successful attempt to reduce crime rate.

Baron Cohen's other credits include Martin Scorsese film Hugo, The Dictator and 2016 comedy Grimsby.

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