Prosecutor demands eight-year sentence for Jah Cure

Stephanie Lyew

STAR Writer

Reggae singer Jah Cure, who is facing aggravated assault and attempted murder charges in the Netherlands, will know his fate on March 22.

This after the closing arguments in his case were presented this morning. The prosecution has recommended an eight-year sentence, with credit for time served. The artiste has been in lock-up since last October.

The 43-year-old artiste, whose given name is Siccaturie Alcock, was involved in a stabbing incident at the Dam Square in Amsterdam on October 1. The incident was reportedly preceded by an argument over payment for a performance booked by Nicardo 'Papa' Blake, a concert promoter. However, CCTV footage of the incident are inconclusive. In January, Jah Cure reportedly asserted that he acted in self-defence. But according to updates from the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service (NPPS), the prosecutor thinks that claim is "unbelievable".

Closing statements from the prosecutor, whose name was given as S Kurniawan, stated that the evidence presented showed that the suspect (Jah Cure) deliberately sought confrontation, and that this is shown by voice messages he had sent to the victim and people the suspect knows. In addition to the voice messages, witness statements were also taken into consideration.

According to Kurniawan, the suspect must have known what he was doing and that the victim could have died. He was quoted in the report as saying, "These are grave crimes that not only have consequences for the personal integrity of the victim, but also severely shaken the legal order. Because the victim is stabbed in broad daylight and in the busy city centre of Amsterdam. It evokes feelings of unsafety among the general public."

Frank Wattimena, press officer at the NPPS, said the prosecutor's recommendation is just a suggestion.

"There is no jury system in the Netherlands; it falls to the judges alone to decide. The court may find the suspect not guilty (an acquittal), may discharge the case, or find the suspect guilty. If the suspect is found guilty, the court will pass sentence. This can be a fine, a term of imprisonment or an 'alternative penalty', such as community service or a restitution order," Wattimena explained.