Andrae Sutherland, widely recognized by his stage name Popcaan, was subjected to legal proceedings on Friday resulting from his involvement in the December 23, 2023, staging of Unruly Fest in St. Thomas. During the court hearing, he was ordered to pay a J$40,000 fine or serve a 30-day jail term for violating the Noise Abatement Act, marking the conclusion of his legal entanglements stemming from the aforementioned event.
In January, Popcaan appeared before the St. Thomas Parish Court to address charges levied against him by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). Accompanied by his legal counsel, Matthew Hyatt, Popcaan admitted guilt to four out of five charges brought against him. These included the offences of indecent language, disorderly conduct, and making threats against police officers. However, he maintained a plea of not guilty in connection to alleged infractions of the Noise Abatement Act, contending that his name was absent from the event permit.
Consequently, regarding the Noise Abatement Act charge, he was mandated to return to court on Friday, February 9, 2024.
Last month, during his appearance in court, the artist, known as the Unruly Boss, sported a red and black attire. Each offence incurred a fine of Jamaican Two Thousand Dollars (J$2000). However, with a 25% reduction applied to each penalty, the total amount per charge was reduced to J$1500, resulting in an aggregate fine of J$6,000. Following the court session, Popcaan was approached by spectators outside the courthouse, where he responded to inquiries regarding the verdict with his characteristic affable demeanor, expressing, “I’m feeling fine.”
The legal dilemmas confronting the dancehall artist arose from the hosting of Unruly Fest. The sequence of events leading to the charges unfolded when Popcaan, visibly frustrated onstage, directed profanities towards police officers, purportedly instructing him to conclude the event earlier than scheduled.
