Rapper T.I. released on bail in weapons case

By Matthew Bigg

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Grammy Award-winning rapper T.I. walked out of a federal court on $3 million bond on Friday two weeks after he was arrested in a weapons case that could see him jailed for 30 years.

Wearing a pale gray suit, T.I. smiled and gave victory signs to around 20 cheering fans as he emerged from the court in downtown Atlanta and in his first public comments since his arrest thanked supporters.

"Great, great," he replied when asked how it felt to be out of jail. "I look forward to getting this (case) behind me and we move forward," said the rapper, born Clifford Harris.

Judge Alan Baverman ordered that he remain at his home in Henry County, Georgia, and submit to having his precise whereabouts monitored both electronically and by a private surveillance company.

His girlfriend would be allowed to reside at the house, which on Friday was searched for weapons, or illegal goods by the U.S. bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) prior to his release.

Other visitors were permitted under a series of conditions and T.I and the property would be subject to random searches.

"You are going to be under home incarceration that is going to be governed by an active GPS (Global Positioning System) at your cost," Baverman told T.I., warning him not to have any contact with potential witnesses in the case.

Baverman said T.I. was free to find appropriate work and his lawyers said he would work at a music studio in his home.