Claims Buju being treated inhumanely in jail are "lies" - pr

[evanovitch]

Claims Buju being treated inhumanely in jail are "lies" - prosecutor

AP

Friday, March 26, 2010



TAMPA, Florida – A federal prosecutor says claims that Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton is being treated inhumanely in jail while awaiting trial on drug charges are "lies."

Attorney David Markus claimed in a motion Monday his client was placed in maximum security because he shared food with another inmate. Markus' claims also included Banton had lost weight because he was denied the vegetarian diet he requires for religious reasons.

Assistant United States Attorney James Preston presented evidence that Banton, born Mark Myrie, <span style="font-weight: bold">has gained 11 pounds</span>.

Banton has been in jail on a drug charge since December.

US Magistrate Anthony Porcelli said he would not interfere with jail operations. He said he would not order Banton's release because he believes there's a risk of him fleeing.

[Sinco01]

Re: Claims Buju being treated inhumanely in jail are &quot;lies&quot; - pr




<span style="color: #000099"><span style="font-size: 17pt">Court denies bail request for Buju</span></span>
Published: Saturday | March 27, 2010 0 Comments and 0 Reactions

Arthur Hall, Senior Gleaner Writer

A United States magistrate yesterday rejected a bail application for reggae superstar Buju Banton.

The magistrate also denied a request from lawyers representing Buju that he be ordered moved to a non-maximum security penal institution.

<span style="font-weight: bold">US magistrate Anthony Porcelli said he would not order Buju's release because he believes there is a risk he could flee to his home country, Jamaica.
</span>
The magistrate also said he would not interfere with the operations at the Pinellas County Jail where Buju, whose correct name is Mark Myrie, is being held.

Attorney-at-law David Markus had gone to court claiming that Buju had lost 40 pounds because he was denied the vegetarian diet he requires for religious reasons, and that his mental and physical health had been rapidly deteriorating,

Marcus also claimed Buju had been transferred to a maximum security section of the jail and this was hindering his ability to prepare for his trial, which begins in weeks.

<span style="font-weight: bold">But a federal prosecutor told the court that the claim that Buju was being treated inhumanely was a lie.

Assistant US Attorney General James Preston presented evidence that instead of losing 40 pounds Buju had gained 11</span> pounds since being in custody.

The court was told that Buju was 150 pounds when he was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on January 5, and when he was weighed recently he tipped the scale at 161 pounds.

Markus challenged those records, asserting Buju's weight when he was booked was just an estimate.

Records

But a jail official said the numbers were supported by records kept by jail medical staff, who have weighed Buju several times during his detention.

Markus complained he hadn't seen the records before the hearing.

According to the prison official, <span style="font-weight: bold">Buju never asked the jail chaplain, who handles such requests, if he could be placed on a vegetarian diet.</span>

The official said he reviewed records of Buju's commissary transactions and found purchases of meat and fish, including chicken, tuna and mackerel.

According to the jail official, he has since directed that Buju be given a vegetarian diet.

Markus said<span style="font-weight: bold"> Buju gave other inmates the meat he bought</span> in the commissary and had filed a diet request with the chaplain.

The prison official also rejected claims that Buju was being housed in a maximum-security section.

He said Buju was being kept in an older part of the jail where the security arrangements were different, but not punitive, because he argued with a prison official who told him not to give his food away.

[Wahalla]

Re: Claims Buju being treated inhumanely in jail are &quot;lies&quot; - pr

Fi ah man wey gwane laka bad man im seem kina saff...

Sorry but mi wan know how police cyan set up ah man wey neva inten fi buy yeyo.... if him neva intend fi buy im shoulda neva diddey...

course ah unno any money one ah im fren tek deh blame.. it happen tuh bob an it happen tuh peta... now buju...

[jah_yout]

Re: Claims Buju being treated inhumanely in jail are &quot;lies&quot;

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wahalla</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Fi ah man wey gwane laka bad man im seem kina saff...

Sorry but mi wan know how police cyan set up ah man wey neva inten fi buy yeyo.... if him neva intend fi buy im shoulda neva diddey...

course ah unno any money one ah im fren tek deh blame.. it happen tuh bob an it happen tuh peta... now buju... </div></div>

marley &amp; tosh got arrested on charges for intent to deal coke?

don't know what you are saying here

[Wahalla]

Re: Claims Buju being treated inhumanely in jail are &quot;lies&quot;

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jah_yout</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wahalla</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Fi ah man wey gwane laka bad man im seem kina saff...

Sorry but mi wan know how police cyan set up ah man wey neva inten fi buy yeyo.... if him neva intend fi buy im shoulda neva diddey...

course ah unno any money one ah im fren tek deh blame.. it happen tuh bob an it happen tuh peta... now buju... </div></div>

marley &amp; tosh got arrested on charges for intent to deal coke?

don't know what you are saying here </div></div>

The legend o Peter and the Gun...
The Legend o Bobs arrest in London for something..

others were charged...