Elephant Man’s Lawyers Are Suspicious As Prosecutors Present Wrong Tape In Immigration Case
Dancehall artist Elephant Man, who allegedly lied to immigration authorities about his trip to Belgium, which was on the list of countries for which Jamaica had imposed travel bans, will return to the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on May 12.
The mentioned date was set on Wednesday, April 28 when the entertainer appeared in court with his attorney Christopher Townsend.
The lawyer disclosed that he had requested to see a tape of what reportedly transpired in the immigration hall over a year ago only for the prosecution to turn up with the wrong tape.
“We have been asking for the videotape for the longest while and because of the length of time, we became suspicious that we could have been presented with a doctored tape. Now, after a year, they gave us the tape of a store, which looks like a pharmacy. How on earth do they make that mistake? The next thing they will tell us is that it can no longer be extracted,” an exasperated Townsend told DancehallMag.
The entertainer, whose real name is Oneil Bryan, is facing charges of making a false declaration and false volunteer declaration.
He is charged along with Kevin Shields, a disc jockey who was traveling with him at the time of the incident.
Townsend said he remains suspicious of the prosecution’s machinations.
“We asked for the tape within the prescribed time, and it’s been over a year. How must we have faith in the judicial system? The prosecutor gave the undertaking to get the correct tape by the next court date but we are even more suspicious now because our worst expectations, our nightmare is coming through, and so said, so done because they produced the wrong tape,” he said.
Bail for both accused were extended.
According to the allegations, on March 20 last year, the accused arrived at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay and failed to declare on the immigration and customs form that he had visited Brussels, Belgium.
As a result, on March 23, summonses were prepared for breaches of the Immigration (Restriction of Commonwealth Citizens) and Perjury Acts and served on Bryan.
Similar summonses were prepared and served on Shields.
Shields is being represented by attorney Russell Stewart.
Elephant Man will return to court in May to face the charges which allege that he violated Jamaica’s Immigration Act, specifically Section 8 (5) which stipulates that arrivals in Jamaica must make a truthful declaration to immigration officers about their recent travel history.
Elephant Man is best known for songs such as Pon De River, Pon De Bank, Willie Bounce, Nuh Linga, and Bun Bad Mind.