Elephant Man ‘good to go’ following acquittal - COVID-related immigration charges dismissed

One could hear the smile in Elephant Man's voice as he repeated, "I'm freed of all charges."

Indeed, the dancehall entertainer is "good to go" after receiving a 'not guilty' verdict yesterday of immigration breaches at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court in Half-Way Tree.

"I feel great and I'm so happy, because as an entertainer living with that problem, where people are wondering if it [the court case] is still going on, and, of course, there was this big brawl about it. So it's like this problem in your life. I feel good to know that everything is done," he told THE STAR.

The 'Energy Gad' hailed the legal system, particularly his attorney Christopher Townsend, whom he said did a great job.

"I just wanted to make sure we did this thing the right way and we followed the correct procedures and protocols, and the lawyers did their thing. Everything was good," he said.

At the outset of the pandemic's arrival in Jamaica in March 2020, the artiste, whose given name is Oneil Bryan, was accused of lying on his immigration form by allegedly failing to declare that he had visited countries affected by the coronavirus. He was subsequently charged with breaching the Immigration Act. The case dragged on for two years due to a delay in evidence from the prosecution. Townsend said the trial should have started on Monday, again referencing prosecution evidence which was to have initially been available in 24 hours.

"We maintained from early that the evidence provided by the Crown did not substantiate the charges, so the court entered a verdict of not guilty," he said. "My client is very happy with the results. Mr Elephant Man is as happy as an elephant."

With this behind him, the hitmaker is ready to focus all his energy into making music, admitting that the legal issue had taken its toll.

"It affect me in a way, knowing that I want to get over with it," he said. "You know, going to court back and forth, and just as a human being, knowing that there's an issue that is making you have to go to court. Mi glad, and mi give thanks to the Almighty seh it's over with."

He added, "Now it's time to work, work, work. You know the place open up, so we're going to be shooting some videos, too, and just working non-stop now that my mind is clear."

Elephant Man released Di Best EP via his eponymous record label in February. The seven-track set featured songs like Big Deal, Rifle Walk and Can't Stop Dancing.