Justin Bieber Concert Gear Seized After Photographer ‘Beaten’

Justin Bieber’s concert equipment has been seized in Argentina as part of legal moves by a photographer who is suing him.

Judge Maria Giraudi ordered that the 19-year-old’s belongings be held after photographer Diego Pesoa filed a suit for damages, alleging Bieber’s bodyguards assaulted him and damaged his equipment as the singer was leaving a nightclub, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports.

The impounding is the latest in a series of incidents that have dogged the tail end of the South America leg of his Believe world tour.

Pesoa claims the heartthrob’s bodyguards hit him and damaged his camera equipment as the pop star exited Buenos Aires nightclub Ink.

Matias Morla, Pesoa’s lawyer, said her client alleges Bieber “gave the order to beat him and then got back in his van.”

A customs source speaking to AFP on the condition of anonymity said:

“It is the first time Argentine customs has impounded belongings of a foreign artist.”

“Customs impounded for 30 days all Bieber’s goods at the Ezeiza International Airport: audio equipment, sound, lights and the clothes he used in his show,” the source added.

The owner of Ink nightclub has also accused the singer of leaving without settllng his bill.

The “Beauty and A Beat” star left Buenos Aires on Monday to travel to neighboring Chile, but reportedly left behind a lot of anger in Argentina.

The Canadian touched off “outrage” after he swept two national flags off the stage with his feet and a microphone stand after they were thrown by audience members at his Buenos Aires show on Nov. 9

An Argentinian lawyer since has filed a criminal complaint accusing the pop prince of defiling Argentina’s national symbol.

If tried and convicted, Justin could face up to four years in prison, The Associated Press reports.

Bieber later apologized for the incident on Twitter and said he hadn’t intended to cause any offence or disrespect his fans, or Argentina.

He explained that he thought the item thrown was a shirt adding that he hoped his mistake would be forgiven.

“I would never do anything to disrespect my fans. I dont like having to defend myself but this time it was needed as I mean no disrespect,” he explained on Twitter.

In Buenos Aires the singer was asked to leave the Hotel Faena after fans descended on the hotel, screaming for their idol, and damaged property.

Justin canceled his second Buenos Aires show citing food poisoning.

At an earlier tour stop in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the superstar was charged with “vandalism” after tagging graffiti on the wall of an disused hotel. Bieber was snapped coming out of a Rio brothel and reportedly asked to leave another hotel.

The teen phenom is now on a short break before resuming his tour on November 18-19 in Mexico City.