Busy Signal pleads not guilty

Jamaican entertainer Busy Signal accused of fleeing the United States to avoid a drug trial a decade ago, pleaded not guilty yesterday to one count of failure to appear in court.

Busy Signal, whose real name is Glendale Goshia Gordon could face up to five years in prison if convicted on that count.

He was remanded yesterday pending his trial.

The dancehall star had been implicated in a narcotics offence and was extradited to answer charges in relation to the offence, allegedly committed in 2002. 

Gordon was extradited on June 19, after waiving his right to a hearing in Jamaica, but his attorney Bill Mauzy had no comment on the charges following his court appearance. 

Attorney-at-law K D Knight, who represented the entertainer in Jamaica, has insisted that US prosecutors cannot resurrect the drug charges against him, as he only agreed to be extradited on the charge of absconding bail. 

Knight argued that any attempt to resurrect the drug charges would constitute a breach of the Extradition Treaty between Jamaica and the US. 

'Busy', as he is affectionately called by his fans worldwide, was greeted at the Norman Manley International Airport on May 21 by law-enforcement agents from the US, the United Kingdom, and Jamaica. As he stepped off the plane, the extradition warrant was executed on him. 

editorial@gleanerjm.com