CROWN HEIGHTS — In a move perhaps meant to put him back in the good graces of the hip-hop community, pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli offered to pay jailed rapper Bobby Shmurda’s $2 million bail, according to an interview with HipHopDX.
The CEO first sparked the ire of the Internet after purchasing the antiparasitic drug Daraprim, used primarily to treat AIDS patients, and raised the price from $13.50 a pill to $750.
It was then revealed earlier this month that he purchased the only existing copy of Wu-Tang Clan’s album “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” for $2 million.
Now he's reportedly willing to pay the same price to free the Brooklyn rapper.
“I’ll show up with $2 million bail money no f***ing problem,” Shkreli said during the interview. “He’s not going to flee the country. I’m not going to lose anything. I’m going to try to make that happen. That’s one thing I’m working on.”
Shmurda’s lawyer refused to comment on the possible bail package, instead responding with a message implying Shkreli may have been involved in the case at an earlier date.
“When Sony, Shkreli and everyone else wanted me to take the case I agreed to take it,” attorney Alex Spiro told DNAinfo in an email. “I will not comment on the case.”
The most recent bid to free Shmurda fell through after a judge denied a bail package put together by his record label and family.
Shmurda, whose real name is Ackquille Pollard, was arrested lasted December on gun and conspiracy charges connected to his alleged involvement with the GS9 crew of East Flatbush.
His next court appearance is in January and his trial is set to begin in February.
Shkreli clearly thinks Shmurda is getting the short end of the stick.
“Forget whether you think he’s guilty or not, the guy should not be sitting in jail right now,” Shkreli said in the HipHopDX interview. “It’s insane. He’s from Brooklyn. I’m from Brooklyn. He deserves a fair trial.”
