Paris Hilton was denied entrance into Japan today, two days after she pleaded guilty to a drug charge in Las Vegas.
Japan has strict immigration laws that bar entry to those convicted of drug offences, although exceptions are occasionally granted.
On Monday, Hilton pleaded guilty in a Las Vegas court to cocaine possession following a recent arrest in which she was found to have 0.8 grams of the drug in a purse. She was given a one-year suspended sentence, fined $2,000 and ordered to do community service.
“I’m going back home, and I look forward to coming back to Japan in the future,” a smiling Hilton told reporters before leaving Narita airport in Tokyo on her private jet this morning.
The 29-year-old socialite was due to appear at a news conference in Tokyo to promote her fashion and fragrance lines. She arrived with her sister Nicky last night but was stopped at the airport and spent the night at an airport hotel after being questioned by officials.
“I’m really tired,” said Hilton, wearing a black baseball cap and a navy sweat suit.
Hilton also cancelled planned appearances in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Jakarta, Indonesia.
Her publicist, Dawn Miller, said Hilton plans to make the trips at a later date. “Paris is very disappointed and fought hard to keep her business commitments and see her fans, but she is forced to postpone her commitments in Asia,” she said in a statement.
“Paris understands and respects the rules and laws of the immigration authorities in Japan and fully wishes to cooperate with them.”
Japanese immigration official Kazuo Kashiharasaid she was denied entry after a total of about six hours of questioning over the two days.
He said if Hilton had applied for an entry permit farther ahead of her arrival, there might have been a chance for Japan’s justice minister to consider an exception in her case. “She just showed up the day after (pleading guilty),” he said.
The country has taken a tough line with famous figures in the past.
Soccer icon Diego Maradona was initially banned from entering the country during the 2002 World Cup finals for past drug offences, but was eventually given a 30-day visa as a “special delegate”.
The Rolling Stones struggled for years to gain entry to Japan and were eventually allowed in despite its members’ drug convictions. In January 1980, former Beatles member Paul McCartney was arrested for marijuana possession at Narita airport. He was deported without carrying out a planned concert tour by his band Wings.
Agencies