Elephant Man Gets New Court Date For Immigration Case
Dancehall deejay Elephant Man appeared in a Jamaican court to answer to an alleged breach of the Immigration Act on Friday.
Appearing via the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Court teleconferencing hearing on Friday, the deejay received a new court date, which is now September 4, 2020. In March, the singer was charged for violating section 8 ext. 5 of the Act, which requires persons entering the island to truthfully declare their travel history to an immigration officer.
Members of the Counter-Terrorism & Organised Crime Unit served a court summons on the Energy God at his home where he had been ordered self-quarantined since he publicly apologized for “unintentionally” making a false declaration to immigration officials at the Sangster International Airport.
The entertainer had failed to disclose that he had recently visited Germany, a country that was on the banned list of places due to the COVID-19 outbreak. If he had disclosed he was recently in Germany, he would have been subjected to quarantine. Rygin King and his party, who arrived on the same flight, did so and allegedly protested the fact that another artiste was allowed through without hassle.
He is being represented by Attorney-at-law Christopher Townsend who says the prosecution has until April 30, 2020 to present its case. Bryan could be fined if found guilty of the offence.
Despite his apology, the singer faced harsh criticism from the public over the controversy. Fellow dancehall artiste, Mr. Vegas also called out Elephant Man’s actions as selfish and irresponsible in a blistering Instagram video.
At the end of his government mandated quarantine, on April 5, he posted an update to his Instagram page, saying, “Yes father god up an thank full just want to say 14 days of qurantine and am feeling great but to every one out there be safe this Coronavirus a no joke so everyone listen to the authorities stay home less contact take care of the family and stay bless it’s for your own safety.”
On April 10, he released The Cure in what some might consider damage control. The video highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 on the world.