Dancehall DJ Vybz Kartel is being escorted to the Central Police Station in downtown Kingston, yesterday. The entertainer, who was involved in an onstage fight with Ninja Man at the Sting concert, was arrested and charged with illegal possession of ammunition. He is also being investigated for shootings and two murders in Portmore, St Catherine. (Photo: Devon Chin)

VYBZ Kartel, the entertainer who was involved in a disgraceful onstage brawl with controversial dancehall DJ Ninja Man at the Sting concert last Saturday morning, was yesterday arrested and charged with illegal possession of ammunition.

Police said the entertainer, who is a licensed firearm holder, had ammunition in his possession that he could not account for.

Vybz Kartel and Ninja Man were also charged with assault and disorderly conduct, for their fight at Sting. In addition Vybz Kartel is facing a charge of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, following police investigations into Saturday's fight at Sting.

Three other men - Jules Watson; Anthony Wright, also called "Singer Blinger"; and Patrick Samuels, also called "Roach" - who the police say are friends of Vybz Kartel, were also charged yesterday with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and disorderly conduct.

Ninja Man was given bail in the sum of $15,000, while the others were remanded in custody last night. Ninja Man is booked to appear in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on January 13.

At the same time, Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, along with Watson, Wright and Samuels were being investigated by the police for shootings and two murders committed in Portmore, St Catherine between 1998 and this year. Police investigators say the men will be questioned in the presence of their lawyers tomorrow morning.

Yesterday Ninja Man asked the police at the Central Police Station, where all five were processed, to allow him to speak to the detainees inside the lock-up so he could make an appeal for Vybz Kartel's safety. His request was not granted.

"Me take care of all type a people and people love me. Me nuh want them do him nothing inside the jail. Him say him sorry and from you look at him you see say him sorry," said Ninja Man, whose official name is Desmond Ballentine.
Tears welled up at the corners of Vybz Kartel's eyes while he was being processed. Only a single one rolled down his cheek.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police Reggie Grant, who is leading the investigation, told reporters yesterday that an internal police investigation is being conducted to find out how a firearm licence was issued to Vybz Kartel.

"Internal investigations have begun into the issuance of a firearm licence to Vybz Kartel," Grant said from his office at the Flying Squad at the Central Police Station in downtown Kingston.

"We cannot give away the gist of our case. He had some ammunition he could not account for," a police source told the Observer.

Ninja Man and Vybz Kartel were both summoned to Grant's office after senior police officers held a closed door meeting on Monday with both DJs and representatives of Supreme Promotions - promoters of Sting. They warned both entertainers to restrain their followers. Vybz Kartel had apologised to Ninja Man and the promoters of the Sting concert at a press conference Monday.

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