Jah Cure Among 200 Found Not “Fit And Proper” To Hold A Gun Permit
Embattled Reggae singer Jah Cure was among 200 Jamaicans previously found not “fit and proper” to be a licensed firearm holder, but who were granted permits anyway.
According to the Jamaica Gleaner, the Prison Walls singer was identified as one applicant with criminal convictions or adverse traces, who were granted firearm licenses between 2014 and 2017.
Some of the gun permit applicants had convictions for murder, firearm offenses, and drug trafficking. They had all been previously denied licenses by the FLA board, the Gleaner added.
During a press conference at the AC Marriot Hotel in New Kingston Tuesday morning, CEO of the entity, Shane Dalling revealed to journalists that Cure was found not “fit and proper” to be a license holder shortly after he was released from prison in 2015 on rape and illegal possession of firearm convictions.
But then weeks later the permit was signed and approved.
“What was curious was that the board was reversing decisions of the previous board. One board would deny the licence on the basis that the person wasn’t fit and proper and although the new board has no new application before it or no new information, approved the person on a willy-nilly basis,” said Dalling.
The license was subsequently revoked.
Jah Cure, whose real name is Siccaturie Alcock, is currently charged with attempted murder, attempted manslaughter, aggravated assault, or attempted aggravated assault in the Netherlands.
The charges stem from an alleged stabbing incident involving concert promoter, Nicardo ‘Papa’ Blake. Cure was arrested following the incident in Dam Square in the city centre of Amsterdam on October 1, 2021.
He has been in custody in the European country ever since and has a few more weeks to go before his trial begins on March 8, at 2 pm.
Franklin Wattimena, press officer with The Netherlands Public Prosecution Service in Amsterdam, explained that the investigation into the stabbing was entering its final phase, and the prosecution was awaiting a ‘digital investigation’ into the suspect’s phone.
“The investigation into the stabbing by the suspect is in the final phase,” Wattimena responded via email, at the time.
“The Prosecutor is only waiting for the results of the digital investigation into the suspect’s phone. The public prosecutor is also awaiting pertinent information from Jamaican authorities regarding Cure’s prior convictions.”
Jah Cure’s legal team will be asserting that the Grammy-nominated singer acted in self-defense.
Cure is no stranger to the inner workings of the justice system. In April 1999, he was found guilty of and sentenced to 15 years in prison for rape. He was released from jail on parole in July 2007, after serving eight years of the sentence.
In 2015, he was arrested by Trinidad and Tobago court marshals shortly after completing his performance at the O2 Park in Chaguaramas. He was charged with accepting money to perform and not showing up. However, after lengthy discussions between his lawyer Mario Merritt and attorneys representing the promoter whom he owed more than TT$83,000 in performance fees, the artist was allowed to go free. He paid US$6,000 in cash to the court and agreed to pay the remainder.