A POPULAR Chinese comedian and former judge on the “China’s Got Talent” television program is facing weapon and drug charges in Long Island in New York City.

    Attorney Hugh Mo declined to comment on the allegations after Zhou Libo’s case was adjourned to June 9.

    The attorney said they will “hopefully resolve this to his satisfaction.”

    Zhou appeared playful and jovial, joking with more than a dozen reporters from Chinese media outlets before and after a brief appearance in a Nassau County courtroom Friday.

    He has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a Jan. 19 arrest in the exclusive village of Lattingtown, east of New York City on what is known as Long Island’s “gold coast.”

    Police said officers stopped a black Mercedes Benz that Zhou was driving shortly after midnight because “it was being driven erratically and the operator was using a cellphone.” They said the 49-year-old Zhou had a passenger with him.

    Officers said they noticed a shoulder holster in the back seat and found a loaded pistol and two plastic bags containing crack cocaine inside a backpack. He and the passenger were arrested.

    Authorities have not disclosed why the Chinese comedian was in the ritzy community near Long Island Sound on the night of his arrest. He is believed to have a residence in Alpine, New Jersey.

    (SD-Agencies)