Beenie Man

The trial into the tax evasion case against popular dancehall artiste Beenie Man was yesterday put off until June 30.

This happened after Resident Magistrate Owen Parkins was not available to hear the matter when it was called up in the Kingston Tax Court.

Trial into the case against the deejay, whose real name is Moses Davis, began last month with two witnesses from the tax department testifying in the matter.

The artiste, who was arrested on a warrant in October 2007 after failing to turn up for a hearing of the case, is alleged to owe the state close to $48 million in taxes between the late 1990s and early 2000, at which time the entertainer was signed with Shocking Vibes and Patrick Roberts, his former manager.

The tax authorities allege that Davis failed to pay over $29,290,116 in back taxes and $18,641,254 in penalties, both figures reaching a total of $47,931,371 during this period.

Hearing in the matter will resume next month.