Dancehall star Vybz Kartel, who was recently released from prison after more than a decade behind bars, has announced plans to sue the State for the costs incurred during his legal battles. The revelation came during a TikTok live session with his lawyer, Isat Buchanan. Vybz Kartel, born Adidja Palmer, expressed frustration over family time which he cannot recoup, but hinted at his intention to recover the substantial sums spent on his court proceedings.
The deejay, known to his fans as the 'Worl' Boss', revealed that he spent more than PS600,000 (approximately J$119 million) for his appeal to be heard at the Privy Council in the United Kingdom, and an additional J$14 million during his recent retrial. Vybz Kartel could not estimate the cost of his initial 2014 murder trial, which spanned 65 days, but said that the financial strain was immense. In initially quashing the conviction in March, the Privy Council ordered the Government to pay the entertainer's legal fees for his appeal.
"Mi can't get back them time deh weh mi miss out. When mi go in, my sons dem did little. Now them a man, mi daughter she even graduate," he lamented.
He also spoke about missing key moments in his family's life, including the passing of his grandmother and other loved ones while he was incarcerated. Despite the serious tone of his legal intentions, Vybz Kartel also told 'Gazanation' about plans for his first live performance. "The first show a inna December.
Mi nah give unno the exact date yet but save unno money," he said. The announcement has already caused a stir on social media, with fans expressing mixed feelings about the timing of the concert, given December's usual financial pressures. Still, as one fan aptly puts it, "Anything weh teacher [another Vybz Kartel nickname] say.
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