Reggae Artist Fantan Mojah Charged For Breaching Curfew: “Why Do This To Me?”

Controversial Reggae artist Fantan Mojah was charged over the weekend with breaches of the curfew orders promulgated under the Disaster Risk Management Act (“DRMA”).

According to the Hail The King singer he was returning from the studio on Saturday afternoon when he was stopped by police.  At the time, an all-island curfew was in effect from Saturday noon to 5:00 AM on Monday.

“I was on Red Hills Road, and the police gave me a summons. I don’t see why though cause imagine, after me a come from studio, and time run out on me, and they still charged me,” Fantan told DancehallMag. “I am a son of Jamaica so the police could have been lenient, after mi sing for my country, and allow them to stream and generate tourism for my country, why do this to me? Why draw me through court?”

“I will go to court, I will bring the video crew and hype it,” an optimistic-sounding Fantan Mojah, whose real name is Owen Moncrieffe, added.

The summons, which was dated April 10, requests Mr. Moncrieffe’s presence at the Half Way Tree Magistrate’s court in St. Andrew on May 18.

Fantan courted controversy earlier this year when he sparked outrage for the lyrical content and the accompanying video for a new single, Fire King.  Among those criticizing the video was Mutaburaka, who said, among other things, that Fire King was not in keeping with the principles of the Rastafarian Bobo Ashanti order.

Mojah is the second Dancehall/Reggae entertainer to be slapped with charges stemming from the breach of DRMA protocols.

Earlier this year, Dancehall artist Moses ‘Beenie Man’ Davis, pleaded not guilty when he appeared before the St Elizabeth Parish Court in Black River to answer two charges that arose from an alleged illegal party in late November 2020. He is accused of failing to obtain permission from the Superintendent, contrary to the Noise Abatement Act, and he has been charged with a breach of the curfew, contrary to the DRMA order.

Beenie Man’s bail was extended and he is slated to return to court on April 19.

Individuals found guilty of breaching the Disaster Risk Management Act face a maximum fine of $1 million and/or 12 months’ imprisonment.

First-time offenders of the Noise Abatement Act must pay a fine not exceeding $15,000 or serve a prison term not exceeding three months. For a second offense, they can be fined up to $30,000, or be imprisoned for six months.  For a subsequent offense, they can be fined up to $50,000 or 12 months.