Dancehall star Popcaan, born Andrae Sutherland, appeared before the St. Thomas Parish Court on Wednesday morning, responding to charges brought against him by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). In the presence of his legal representative, Matthew Hyatt, Popcaan pleaded guilty to four of the five charges laid against him. These included the use of indecent language, disorderly conduct, and issuing threats to police officers. However, he entered a not-guilty plea in relation to alleged breaches of the Noise Abatement Act, citing that his name was not listed on the event permit.
The artist, known as the Unruly Boss, presented himself in court wearing a red and black ensemble. For each offence, he was fined Jamaican Two Thousand Dollars (J$2000). However, a 25% discount was applied to each fine, reducing the total amount to J$1500 per charge, resulting in a cumulative fine of J$6,000. Post-adjournment, Popcaan was approached by onlookers outside the courthouse, where he responded to inquiries about his feelings regarding the outcome with his characteristic jovial demeanour, stating, “I’m feeling fine.”
Popcaan is scheduled to return to court on February 9, 2024, for a decision related to the alleged breaches of the Noise Abatement Act.
The legal issues faced by the dancehall artist originated from the staging of Unruly Fest in St. Thomas last December. The incident leading to the charges unfolded when Popcaan, frustrated on stage, directed expletives at police officers who allegedly instructed him to conclude the event earlier than agreed upon. Despite presenting an unsigned agreement with the St. Thomas Police Division specifying the event’s duration, law enforcement abruptly halted the concert.
@ace876media.ent1 Popcaan pleaded guilty to four of the five charges except breach of the noise abatement act . He was fined $2000 JMD for each offense #popcaanmusic #unrulyfest ♬ original sound – Ace876media
