Disagreement keeps Buju in US jail

BY PAUL HENRY Observer staff reporter henryp@jamaicaobserver.com

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

REGGAE artiste Buju Banton's release from a US jail has hit another snag due to a disagreement with the prosecution over the security company he wants to hire for his 24-hour security detail.

The disagreement is such that the parties will be heading back to the Sam M Gibbons Federal Court for the matter to be reviewed by Magistrate Judge Anthony E Porcelli tomorrow.

"The defence can't get the prosecutor to agree to the security company," a source close to the matter told the Observer.

As part of his bail conditions, it was stipulated that Banton be placed under house arrest, have a 24-hour security detail, at his expense, and wear an electronic monitoring device. The security detail is to ensure that Banton does not violate the terms of his house arrest.

Judge Porcelli had also ruled that the government agree with whatever security arrangement Banton is putting in place.

Banton, whose real is Mark Anthony Myrie, was offered bail in the sum of $250,000 after his cocaine and gun trial ended in September with a hung jury.

A retrial is slated for some time in December.

The Observer reported last week that the four-time Grammy nominee artiste was having problems taking up his bail because of the strict conditions set by Judge Porcelli.

Banton was arrested at his Tamara, Florida, home last December and charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute five killogrammes of cocaine, and possession of a weapon during the furtherance of a crime.

Under the terms of the house arrest, Banton can only leave his house for meetings with his attorney, for doctor's appointments, to purchase medication and for court-appointed hearings. He will also be subjected to drug testing.

He will have to surrender all his travel documents.

After clearing this hurdle of satisfying the bail conditions, Banton's legal team will have to seek bond in the immigration court. Banton's entertainment visa was revoked following his arrest.

The conditions were set as there were concerns that the artiste may be a flight risk.

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COMMENTS (21)

Mr Lawman
10/27/2010

PL Boggle@ Bigup yuh self brethren, your post on Buju and his delima is on point.... respect..

Mr Lawman
10/27/2010

Elli Deedo@... Sir, I'm all about the RULE OF LAW being fair and just. Unlike you, I view the facts in the Buju matter objectively without bias one way or the other... You take issue with my view because of your obvious biases about race, government my friend and probably a Buju fan too. When you emancipate yourself from the mindset of oppression you'll see the light brethren...

Peter Lawrence
10/27/2010

This is a case where you don't want to kick a man when he is down, plain and simple. I sympathise with Buju's PLIGHT, not his actions. If he gets off, it is due only to the tolerance of the American people(Jurors) to extend mercy to a foreigner. To allege racism and all sorts of red herrings in very unhelpful, and inaccurate. He MAY get off after serving only ONE YEAR(present time in jail) of a potential life sentence. I hope he gets off and uses his experience to better the D/hall industry.

Elli Deedo
10/27/2010

@ Mr Lawman, See how feeble your views are, because you are on the side of the prosecutor: Based on the report we've read, BANTON was not found in possession of any illegal material. He was accused of being a Conspirator to a crime. A conspirator doe's not have to be on the crime scene to be arrested. Evidence of his involvement must be proven; that's the characteristics of Conspiracy): @ BOGLE; mail me at the following: eleazarelliston@gmail.com (we can reason) Respect:

Mr Lawman
10/26/2010

Elli Deedo@Sir, you say the US Gov case is based on theory without substance as you put it. Any Objective person after listening to all the facts in this case including the video and voice recording of Buju tasting coke and talking about selling drugs etc would leave that reasonable person to conclude based on the totality of the evidence that a crime has or was being planned, thus the arrest and pending charges. Conspiracy to possess is the crime alleged not physical possession.

Mr Lawman
10/26/2010

Elli Deedo and others on here like to distort the facts in this case! Let’s be clear, Buju was not charged with possession of Cocaine. Buju/co-defendants is charged with CONSPIRACY TO POSSES AND DISTRIBUTE NORCOTICS WITH THE AGGRAVATING FACTOR OF HAVING A WEAPON WHEN THE ALLEGED CRIME WAS COMMITTED. In JA if you and someone else commit robbery and you never had a gun but the other person did both would be charged with robbery and ILLEGAL POSSESION OF A FIREARM although you were just a lookout.

Elli Deedo
10/26/2010

Not because a person might not be from what is known as a upperclass area according to Society,"or from a name brand family, he doe's not have to mix with careless people. @ Bogle, I respect your views, trust no man, we can only swear for ourselves. Buju have made a serious mistake, which can land him in prison for many years, hopefully not; because of his associates, even if he is innocent. One must be careful of who they associate with.
If he abused Homos, he was still in the wrong company:

Elli Deedo
10/26/2010

When I begon to understand my parents, mother and Father living in that big nice House; I was of the opinion that my Father as a Black Man, was prejudice, because he was wealthy. He was mostly in favour of my Chinese friends, he was always warning me about some Boys who I used to hang out at my Gate with. One of them got (99) Yrs in Prison, after my dad died. we never used to go any where, because he was not from a Christian Family. I have learned that Company can be very Nasty.

Elli Deedo
10/26/2010

@ Bro BOGLE; If they had caught Banton with drugs, I would never have emphasized much on the issue, because I'am in no way in support those who have broken the laws. Laws and order must be Maintained. Because of his association with ig-noble characters, he is now made to stand serious consequences. I'am in support of him, because I believe, he is the victim of a Plot.
I was thought by my parents not to associate with people I have no knowledge of, and to learn about their activities, before:

PL BOGLE
10/26/2010

I certainly wont discombobulate my thoughts w/ buju’s dilemma with the US justice system my experience as a foreigner residing in a foreign country has taught me the wisdom to understand that I must be very vigilant be cautious of my surroundings & the people I associate myself with. I understand very well that all countries have their own constitution & laws that govern their respective countries. I cannot be resentful or disrespectful to the manner that their laws are enforced. I have disciplined myself in the boundaries of their laws. As mama would say “walk on chalk line” BLESS.

William Muth
10/26/2010

Funny how the merest mention of Buju raises peoples hackles and elicits numerous posts but so far no posts relating to Warmington booting the gentleman out of the parliamentary building for not wearing a coat. Jamaica, this 2010. This is a hot country. the man had on a tie. Wake up Warmington. Wake up people. Remember 'bush jackets'. Norman Manley et al didn't even bother with ties. Only the people who make & sell coats should be happy with Warmington. You know what those things cost?

Jerry Berman
10/26/2010

@Donna Watts, I tempted to agree with you on that one. The problem is, if he is out on bail for the next two months, he will have access to some very vital resources that he might not have access to for the next 15-years!! o_o
-
Might as well enjoy it while it is readily available, or the subject/target of his music might change dramatically ....don't you think?

gary lee
10/26/2010

The prosecution see their case slipping away, and so his continued incarceration is just a matter of bolstering their case in the public's eye. Buju, should try to get his bail as soon as possible.

Elli Deedo
10/26/2010

Once a person is fitted with the Electronic monitoring band, such a person will be tracked (24/7s) He cannot approach a Airport trying to escape. For a Country with technology, their attitude in dealing with the issue of Security here, is positively pre-historic. One doe's not necessarily have to be a Psychiatrist to identify, Psychopathic Disorders in their behaviour on this issue either. A lunatic standard of author-itarianism is required to be a member of the U.S. justice system, Strange!!:)

Donna Watts
10/26/2010

He Might as well just hang in there until december

John Smith
10/26/2010

Hotta Fire: say "I" not "we" because you don't speak for everybody. Actions have consequences as Buju, and indeed Bruce, are finding out. For those who question the necessity of the monitoring device: if Buju gives the security detail the slip & try hop on a flight back a yaad, they can track him. Where would rappers fly to? Rapers love the USofA - their hood.

Hotta Fire
10/26/2010

We want back Buju, tell them to take bruce instead. President Obama and AG Holder please swap us Buju for bruce.

L Lynch
10/26/2010

@yard Vybz I so agree with u...can these people be real 'he has to pay for his own security plus he's tagged better him sit out the time in their house(prison) then

Elli Deedo
10/26/2010

This Brother was not foud in possession of illegal material, they are only acting on a theory without substance, while scavenging for evidence to substantiate their fraudulent display of injustice: I was of the opinion that a plutocratic, and negrophobic society which speak's of justice for all, would have implemented such ptractise. They are instead acting like a group of Ravens scavenging around a dead corpus in confusion. The application of their fossilized attitudes, remain's a mystery.

Peter Claude
10/26/2010

what is the point of the electronic monitoring device if he has to have a security detail at his house? Is that not the point of wearing one of those things? when rappers have to wear one they don't have to pay for a security detail along with it. I have never heard of this being done before..

Yard Vibz
10/26/2010

Okay, so who is astonished by this new development? This is a typical case of a mischievous referee who spontaneously signaled a free kick on the premise that same could not be converted. However, after the kicker had dressed the ball & waited for the whistle, the ref suddenly realized that the ball should have been placed a few yards farther away from the goal. Suh wha wi sey? "Babylon released the chain, but dem ah use dem brain!" This is certainly not an easy road, brethren! One love!

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Disagreement keeps Buju in US jail