International R&B artiste, Akon.

Akon's in trouble again. According the press reports the international superstar conned a 14-year-old girl into a dance contest, then simulated sex acts with her on stage.

The incident, which was reported in the Trinidad Express, and which is recorded and broadcast on Internet sites such as YouTube.com as Pandagon.net, happened at the Zen nightclub in Port-of-Spain.

Global contest

The Trinidad Express reports that "the star from Senegal managed to convince the ladies, who made their way onstage, that they were taking part in a global contest and that they could earn a fabulous grand prize trip to Africa if they won."

The competition was then filmed by Akon's crew and later revealed to be a mere sham for the entertainment of the audience present, and an even greater potential global audience, as he promised to upload the footage on to the popular Internet video website www.youtube.com.

Pastor's daughter

During his set onstage, Akon reportedly requested several volunteers in a dance contest "to represent Trinidad". The 14-year-old girl, the daughter of a Trinidadian pastor of the Flaming Word Ministry of Chaguanas, was amoung the seven volunteers in the contest.

"He claimed that he had done this 'everywhere he went', and that 'Africa was currently ranked number one', with 'Atlanta' and 'London' coming in second and third, respectively" the Trinidad Express reports.

He said: "We've never done this in the Caribbean before, but my DJ assures me that Trinidad has the best winers. Is that true? Well, y'all gotta represent here. Come on up now. Don't be scared."

The winner of the contest would have to compete in the finals against "Africa". However, the women, who danced to Akon's current hit Smack That, were not told that Akon was himself 'Africa'.

According to the Express, "Akon would have his way with the petite young lady: turning, twisting and even flipping her body, while mimicking sexual positions and acts all over the stage for three consecutive rounds."

Like watching rape

One woman described the simulation as "like watching a rape".

According to reports, his DJ, Virgin Islands native Benny D, even joined in during the second round and together they sandwiched the young lady on the floor of the stage. In the end, Akon declared himself the winner, even though the crowd adjudged that his female volunteer had won the contest.

Since then, many visitors to the Internet sites have condemned Akon's actions and have blasted the parents for allowing the child to go to the club.

"Akon's whole sham contest to allow him his moment of personal exhibitionism and use of young ladies as sex toys is just rank, however, if the

women are of age and want to consent to debasing themselves onstage, that's their right. But a 14-year-old?" asks one visitor to Pandagon.net.