LAPD probes leak of bruised Rihanna photo

Los Angeles, February 21: The publication of the photo of battered face of pop singer Rihanna, who is believed to have been assaulted by his singer boyfriend Chris Brown, has prompted the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to launch an internal investigation.

A photo of Rihanna’s battered face after the alleged attack has been doing the rounds on the Internet. The photo shows the pop star with bruises, scratches, a bloody nose and a badly swollen face.

The photograph, which was posted Thursday night by the celebrity Web site TMZ, is said to be taken immediately after she was allegedly attacked by her boyfriend Chris Brown, who allegedly assaulted the singer in the early morning of the Grammy Awards night two weeks ago.

In a news release, the police department said Friday it appears the photo is part of the LAPD's ongoing investigation of the R&B performer Brown, who was arrested on Feb. 8 and charged with making criminal threats after fighting with a woman in a car. Authorities have not yet revealed the name of the woman.

Hours after the online publication of the photo of bruised and bloodied Rihanna, the police department has opened an internal investigation and asked for the public's help in finding the person who leaked it.

"At this stage, it is reasonable to believe this is the type of photo taken in a police department domestic violence investigation," said Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger. "We are obligated to protect the victims of domestic violence. The investigation will determine who had access and who was present that day during the process.

“We will leave no stone unturned to identify who did this or to refute that this was a photo from the Police Department."

Further, Police Chief William J. Bratton said it would be an embarrassment to the police department if an employee is responsible for the leak. Any officer or employee will face discipline, including possible termination, if found guilty for a leak of evidence from department’s files, Bratton added.

Meanwhile, a representative for Rihanna, who is currently staying with her family in her native Barbados, issued a statement on Friday saying the pop singer would not comment on the photo-leak.

"At the request of the authorities, Rihanna is not commenting about the incident involving Chris Brown," the rep said.

The rep also confirmed that Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, is doing well at her family home. "She wants to assure her fans that she remains strong, is doing well, and deeply appreciates the outpouring of support she has received during this difficult time," he said.

Pop singers, 20-year-old Rihanna and 19-year-old Brown, were nominated for Grammys and were scheduled to perform at the Feb. 8 awards show, but neither did.

Shortly after the incident, the R&B star Brown turned himself in to Los Angeles police who booked him for making a criminal threat, a felony, and later released him on $50,000 bail.