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 3 hours ago

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.

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