Buju: Innocent or guilty?

Buju Banton's drama with American justice and the unprecedented revelation of the accused's version! Problems with justice are not exclusive to ordinary citizens. Throughout the history of international music, several famous or not so famous artists have been involved in a series of difficult situations, among the most common arms or drug trafficking, promoting prostitution, child support issues and physical aggression. More recently, a drug trafficking accusation changed the life of one of the most innovative and important artists in Jamaican music in the last two decades. Those who have followed Surforeggae in recent years have certainly been able to see part of the drama experienced by Mark Anthony Myrie, better known as Buju Banton.

BRIEF HISTORY

Buju Banton was born on July 15, 1973 and began his career very young, at the age of 13, quickly becoming one of the most influential and important artists in Jamaican dancehall and ragga. Proof of this is that in 1992, Banton (codename adopted in honor of one of his mentors, toaster Burro Banton) broke Bob Marley's record for the most songs topping the charts in one year. Creator of a series of hits such as "Driver A", "Destiny", "Champion" and "Wanna be Loved", Buju Banton has always been very controversial, including being accused of homophobia (which, by the way, is a very serious and unfortunately common problem in Jamaica) because of the song "Boom Bye Bye". His most famous albums are among the essential for any dancehall researcher or lover. Great examples are "The Voice of Jamaica" (1993), "Till Shiloh" (1995), "Inna Heights" (1997), "Unchained Spirit" (2000), "Rasta Got Soul" (2009) and "Before The Dawn" (2010), winner of Grammy de Melhor Álbum de Reggae.

THE NIGHTMARE

Buju Banton was arrested in 2009, accused of conspiracy to traffic 5kg of cocaine, and it was alleged by an informant that even though he did not invest money in the plan, nor did he intend to profit from it, Buju was involved in the case. In 2010 the artist was released to await the trial that resumed on February 21, 2011, where he was found guilty and imprisoned again.

THE ACCUSED’S VERSION

The whole episode began in 2009 when Buju Banton, after completing a successful tour in Europe, returned from Spain to the USA, where he would soon perform. Without knowing it, Buju sat next to Alexander Johnson, an informant from Governo Americano who persuaded him to get closer which culminated in a certain intimacy. Invited in December 2010 by Alexander to see a boat that Buju had expressed interest in buying during the conversation on the plane, he was surprised at a warehouse on the docks in Florida where the agent presented him with a 5kg package of cocaine. Banton, who had been accompanied by his driver Ian Thomas, returned home, not answering any calls from the supposed "friend" after that day. Two days after the incident, the driver Ian Thomas went to the same place accompanied by another man with money to pay for drugs, having been arrested for drug trafficking and confessing to the crime shortly after, which according to the artist, had nothing to do with him. On the same day, Buju Banton was arrested at his home, in which Fort Lauderdale was accused of being part of the scheme.

THE JUDGMENT - IMPORTANT EVENTS

During the trial, it was revealed that the informant, Alexander Johnson, is a convicted drug trafficker in Colombia and that his immigration to Estados Unidos was legalized, and has even received 3.3 million dollars tax-free to serve the American government. Although de Buju Banton (Mark Myrie) was never criminally convicted of anything, he spent more than a year in prison awaiting trial, and in October 2010 he was forced to pay $300,000 to the American government for the case and a monthly fee of $20,000 to remain on probation awaiting trial, all the while having a GPS device tied to his leg. During both trials in which the artist participated, the lead investigator of the case, Sargento Dan McCaffrey da DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) stated that there was no evidence that he was a drug dealer. He was investigated for 13 months without any facts indicating the crime. Furthermore, it was proven in court that Banton did not benefit from or finance the drug sales agreement for which he is accused, and it was proven by the defense lawyer that the recipients of the drug (who remain free) had no relationship with and did not even know the singer. Informant Alexander Johnson received $50,000 for the case and continues to do similar work, while Mark Myrie is in jail. After all, who is to blame? We await scenes from the next chapters of this soap opera.