Tommy Lee cries after being freed

Dancehall entertainer Tommy Lee Sparta was reduced to tears in the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston on Thursday, minutes after Justice Carolyn Tie upheld a no-case submission made on Wednesday by his attorney Ernest Smith.

The deejay, whose given name is Leroy Russell, and three others were initially charged in February 2014 on suspicion of breaches of the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transaction) (Special Provisions) Act, 2013.

However, no evidence was offered for two of the accused, who were later released.

Tommy Lee and co-accused O'Brian Smith were then left to prove their innocence.

Today, they are free men.

Shortly after Tommy Lee was processed and given clearance, he told THE WEEKEND STAR that he was overwhelmed with joy.

"A di first mi cry from the case start, but it was tears of joy. A di best feeling inna the world right now. Give thanks for the judge and especially my lawyer Ernest Smith the baddest lawyer inna di world. Mr Ernie Smith, respect, and give thanks to the judge same way. From my family to everybody nuff respect," he said.

Tommy Lee is the second high-profile artiste to be freed in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Buju Banton was released from a US prison.

BURDEN LIFT

"Yeah, man. A Buju carry the luck come give mi. Him go through more than me because he was locked up, but the burden lift ya now. Same like the World Boss (Vybz Kartel), him soon come a road," Tommy Lee told our news team.

He also told THE WEEKEND STAR that catching up on some well-needed sleep was high on his agenda.

Tommy Lee was scheduled to depart Jamaica for Antigua on Thursday. However, he missed his flight because the start of court was delayed.

Despite that, he said that he is glad he is now able to fly.

"Glad how mi family can all right again and everything back to normal ya now. I can get to travel in peace and dem thing deh," he said.

"Mi couldn't travel as me feel like. Every time I travel I have to bring back my passport. Mi couldn't go the big country dem. Mi couldn't go England, America, and Canada. But I am open to the world ya now. Tommy Lee is a free man. God is good."

His attorney Ernest Smith told THE WEEKEND STAR that the restrictions placed on the entertainer during the course of the trial also affected his ability to pay for his legal fees.

"I am very happy for Mr Leroy Russell. The allegations against him certainly had put his career on hold. In addition to that, he was the victim of what I would describe as unlawful unfair restraint of trade because he has been prevented from participating in several big stage shows, which certainly affected his ability to finance both himself and by extension, his lawyer," said Smith.