Popcaan Calls For Tommy Lee Sparta’s Freedom

Dancehall artiste Popcaan has called for the freedom of his former Portmore Empire crew member, Tommy Lee Sparta.

During a recent Instagram Live, Popcaan and his Unruly associates are partying as his new song, UNDA DIRT, is heard.  Popcaan shouts “Free Tommy Lee” several times during the Live as he enjoys his latest rendition, which has been a fan favorite off the deejay’s FIXTAPE featuring verses from Tommy Lee Sparta and Masicka.

Sparta, whose real name is Leroy Russell, appeared in court on August 10, 13, and 14 for a tribunal to rule on his detention, but there’s so far been no word. The Rich Badness singer has been in jail since July 7, under a State of Emergency (SOE) and investigations into an upsurge of violence in his hometown of Flankers, St James.

There may be a silver lining for him however as according to a report in the Jamaica Observer Jamaica’s Security Minister Dr Horace Chang said that persons who have been held during the current SOEs could be released today, August 17, if there is no incriminating evidence against them.

However, Chang added that if charges have been filed before the period ends today, they will remain incarcerated.

“Some of them will be charged, and those that are not charged will be released. [But] those who they have evidence against that can be charged will be charged, and they [police] have been charging a number of them,” he told the Observer. The SOE’s have been ended in preparation for the September 3 general elections.

Sparta was named as a person of interest in an investigation on July 6 and turned himself in to the authorities at the Freeport Police Station in Montego Bay, St James the next day as requested.

He has faced several issues while being in jail, including sickness and delays in his hearings. Early in July, his lawyer Ernest Smith said he wasted a day waiting for the police to show up at the St. James Police Division.

As investigations continued, police revealed that they had taken Tommy Lee along with them on a raid of apartments in Kingston in late July.  The cops did not indicate what role Tommy Lee played in the raid, but they did disclose the arrest of ten men who they say are affiliated with the St James-based Downtown Sparta Gang.

Smith has also said that he intends to file a multimillion lawsuit against the state for “unfairly targeting” his client. Smith continues to maintain that Lee is innocent and is not a part of a gang.

This is not the first time that Sparta has been questioned over his alleged involvement with gang activity in Montego Bay. It’s actually the third time in four years that he’s been detained for questioning. If he hasn’t been charged, he may get a taste of freedom soon.