Buju Banton Being Treated Unusually?

So back in December of 2009, I posted about reggae icon Buju Banton's arrest following a police setup. I found the whole thing odd mostly since large-scale coc aine buys would conflict with Banton's Rastafarian beliefs.

Then back in March His lawyer said he was being targeted by warders

SHARED A MEAL
The lanky Rastafarian, who is a vegetarian, reportedly shared a meal with a fellow inmate, which is a violation, and was sent to the maximum security wing for at least 30 days. Markus said he was made aware of the situation on March 18.
Since being transferred, Markus said Buju, born Mark Myrie, has been unable to prepare his own meals and "has not been provided with a diet in accordance with his religious views".
In the bond application, Markus also intimated that his client might be the victim of personal attacks by the warders.
"Mr Myrie has been moved from floor to floor in the jail without explanation and treated differently than the other inmates. The decision to place Mr Myrie in a maximum security wing weeks before his upcoming trial suggests that something else is going on," said Markus in his application, which included a footnote naming a corporal "who has had it out for Mr Myrie during his entire stay".
The attorney added that the violation was a minor one not fitting the punishment and that "in sum, Mr Myrie is now in a maximum security wing for caring enough to offer food to another inmate who was hungry and genuinely believing there was nothing wrong in doing so".
DEFICIENCIES
Food and nutrition consultant Dr Heather Little-White said if Buju were not getting his desired meal, he could be losing an average of two pounds per week. This would result in his "mental frame not being as strong and he would become physically weak".
"He would also have deficiencies in vitamins and minerals and would need to be examined by a doctor. Until proven guilty, his likes and dislikes should be taken into account," said Little-White.
Markus said Buju's transfer to maximum security has been affecting his client mentally and physically and, by extension, the legal team's preparation for the start of his trial on April 19.
"For example, this week when counsel attempted to visit Mr Myrie, counsel was required to wait over two hours until he could see Mr Myrie," he stated in his application.
In a radio interview yesterday, Markus said the delay was a ploy to derail his team from winning the trial but that he was "optimistic and we are going to fight this".

I know this is a slanted article but does it sound likely a prisoner would be moved to maximum security for sharing food? Is this typical especially before they are tried?
Now there is this:
Banton's Trial Date Bumped Back 2 Months

TAMPA, Fla. (CBS/AP) Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton was set to go to trial on a federal drug charge next week, but a Tampa judge has postponed the controversial singer's day in court for two months. The trial scheduled for April 19 is now not on the docket until June 21.
U.S. District Judge James Moody gave no explanation for the change.
Banton's attorney said the Grammy-nominated singer, who has been behind bars since Dec. 2009,  wants to go to trial as soon as possible.
Banton, born Mark Myrie, is accused of conspiracy to traffic more than five kilograms of coc aine. He recently argued unsuccessfully to be moved from the Pinellas County Jail because his vegetarian diet needs were not being met and he was losing weight.

It seems as though he is being treated unfairly but is this only because he's a celebrity or are there ulterior motives behind his seemingly harsh treatment? Are they trying to make an unusual example of him or is this pre-trial punishment typical for drug charges? I find maximum security unjust based on the available information. Is this cruel or unusual? Is his right to a speedy trial being blocked?

Being treated like crap is not unusual in prison.

In fact it is the norm.

So no, he isn't being treated unusually.

It is usual for them to make you suffer unfairly. It is totally commonplace.

They even torture people in there. And cover it up and lie about it.

Hell, many people are murdered in there. Even by the guards half the time too.

The guards are the ones who bring in all the drugs and stuff anyways. They get paid for it.

The vast majority of them are incredibly corrupt and violent.

Buju Banton has a drug charge? I didnt even hear about this. maybe he is being set up and targeted by "dem batty boys" he used to not like.

I'll have to read up on this. I like Buju

That is terrible treatment.
I don't see the maximum security a necessity because it wasn't a violent crime.
Goes to show where our prison system is at these days.
But then again, I am a fan of prisoners hammering rocks all day for punishment.
Not getting degree's and becoming ministers.

I just wanted to read the article because I am a Buju Banton fan.
Great music.
[sings]'Til I'm laid to rest....[/sings]

reply to post by Moonsouljah


Who knows... Although i will say that, in my experience, there are two types of Rastaman...

The first is the conscious Rastaman... follows his belief to the letter and lives in peace!

The second is what i call the fashion dread... Rastafarianism is merely a image tool for these people to use for iconic status or popularity...

In fairness to Buju, i don’t know enough about him personally to know either way...

But he does advocate killing gay people (boom bye bye)
And he did do the song Driver... which seemed to have sympathetic view point of the world of drug dealing!

Not very conscious or righteous in my opinion... but that does not really prove anything!

On the flip side to this... i wouldn’t put it past the law to set him up or treat him unfairly!!

Many Rastafarians are discriminated against... and i believe that this is not just because of their dreads or colour of skin but more to do with their awareness of this corrupt system we live in!!!

Peace

S + F

I don't think Rastas are supposed to be violent either, but Jamaica has massive problems with violence by some of them.

It's like saying that a Christian wouldn't do it either, well, we all know there are many kind of Christians, from the type who don't bother to read the bible or follow any rules, and hardly every go to church, through to those who follow it to every letter. Even those who follow every letter can't be suspicion free though, we've seen plenty of people who pretended, like some of the politicians who preached family values and anti-homosexuality, but where having gay affairs on the side.

I know that simply have certain beliefs doesn't mean you follow them all the time and the evidence of his guilt seems solid but at the same, the police seemed to use borderline entrapment.

They just seem to really be throwing the book at him.

reply to post by Moonsouljah


Oh i agree with you... just offering alternative possibilities... but im with you mi bredrin...

Bun Babylon


Well you see
The people inna di west
Di whole a dem gone crazy
Love fi big up dem chest yet dem dey inna slavery
Dem caan nyam nuh food without nuh money
So foolish is the man
Eat food in fruitful Zion yet him hungry
A tell yuh fi
Cleanse yuh ways, clean up yuh path
Ghetto yutes nuh badda gaze
Mi say unno fus fi staat
Babylon a seek soul an heart
Dem dun get dem peice and want our half

there are 2 types of rastas - the natty-dreads and the shaved-heads - the latter are the violent ones, buju is the natty. i'm not buying it for one minute he was trafficking coke or anything else. he is being railroaded for the benefit of the judge/prosecutor.

[sarcasm]reading this post has just ruined my day, thanks ATS.[/end sarcasm]

reply to post by Moonsouljah


The lawyers of Buju Banton, aka "Mark Myrie," went into federal court in Tampa on March 26, 2010 about these issues. Among their claims were that Buju had lost 40 pounds in the Pinellas County jail, where he is being held, and that he was being penalized, and that he was not able to get vegetarian food.

The federal government was able to show in court that Buju Banton had actually gained 11 pounds in prison. They claimed that he was not being penalized. They also claimed that he had never requested a vegetarian diet.

He is now receiving a vegetarian diet.

You can read what happened in court 03/26/10 here www2.tbo.com...


If you are interested in the charges against Mark Myrie, aka "Buju Banton," as well as some of the alleged evidence, see "Buju Banton Affidavit" at www.dancehall.mobi...