Absent airport video stalls Elephant Man’s case

Government prosecutors are yet to hand over a crucial piece of evidence in Elephant Man's COVID-19/immigration case. The entertainer, who appeared before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Wednesday, had his bail extended until March 17. He is charged with breaching the Immigration Act after he allegedly made a false declaration to immigration officials at the Sangster International Airport following his return from overseas.

The artiste, whose given name is Oneil Bryan, allegedly failed to declare that he travelled to Germany last March. At the time, travellers to Germany and several other countries were required to disclose the information to the authorities as part of Jamaica's COVID-19 protocol.

Prosecutors have been told to turn over the video footage from the airport to Elephant Man's lawyer, Christopher Townsend, but this has not been done.

"The judge has now set a date specifically for the purpose of seeing whether or not they are going to abide by the rules of court. Nobody knows (why the footage has not yet been turned over to the defence) and that is what is creating the suspicion that there may be something wrong," Townsend said.

"This is evidence that they have at their disposal. It is evidence that should not have taken them this long to hand over, and so we ask ourselves the question: Why has it taken so long then? And if it takes so long, is the footage that we're getting the true footage? Can the prosecution be trusted to be fair when they have taken so long?"

Anxious for matter to end

In the meantime, the Signal de Plane deejay says he is longing for the matter to be disposed of by the court.

"You know when you just wah supmn done and over with so you can move onto the next thing, a just so me feel right now," the Energy God told THE WEEKEND STAR.

"A one year now me a guh court every minute and is like me just wah move on. But mi just a work wid di programme because mi nuh want nobody have it fi say we unruly and thing innu, so now mi just leave everything inna God hands," he said.

Elephant Man has already made four appearances in court.

"People see mi a guh a court more while, and dem a look and a wonder a weh mi do now. Dem nuh even know say a di same airport thing because nuff people think that over and done with. Nuff people shock say it nuh over yet, but as mi say, mi just a gwaan hold di faith and leave everything to God," the artiste added.