Popcaan gets discount on court fines

Dancehall artiste Popcaan, given name Andrae Sutherland, received a 25 per cent discount after pleading guilty to multiple charges at the St Thomas Parish Court on Wednesday.

The charges stemmed from an incident at his show Unruly Fest which was held on December 22. Popcaan was captured on video arguing with lawmen who sought to bring the show to an end.

According to the artiste's attorney Matthew Hyatt, Popcaan was fined $1,500 or 10 days' imprisonment for the charges - indecent language, disorderly conduct, using abusive and calumnious language, and issuing a threat to police officers. This brought his fine total to $6,000. Charged under the Towns and Community Act, the maximum fine for each charge was $2,000. Defendants can get up to a 50 per cent discount for pleading guilty at the first relevant date, but presiding judge Sanchia Burrell opted for a 25 per cent discount.

"Quite unfortunately the maximum fine is 2,000," she said.

On the charge of breaching the Noise Abatement Act, Popcaan pleaded not guilty. Hyatt pointed out, "The permit does not bear the name of Andrae Sutherland." The entertainer is scheduled to return to court on February 9, where the Crown will determine the course of action regarding that charge.