Vybz Kartel free on drug rap, but remains in custody

Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

Popular entertainer Vybz Kartel was today freed in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court of possession of ganja.

When the matter came for trial today, Katel’s lawyer, Christian Tavares-Finson, argued that based on the police statement there was no way the crown could prove that his client was in possession of the ganja.

The police had reported that they went into a room and saw a spliff among some of Kartel’s belongings.

The crown offered no evidence.

Resident Magistrate Maxine Ellis had queried why the entertainer was still being prosecuted when someone else had pleaded guilty to offence.

Kartel and others were picked up in a hotel room in New Kingston last September after the ganja spliff was found in the room.



The embattled artiste, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, remains in custody as he has not been granted bail in relation to one of the two murder charges against him.

He is charged jointly with several men in connection with the murders and they are to return to the Home Circuit Court on June 29.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com