Judge denies banton’s request to perform

The show apparently won’t go on for Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton, who has been on house arrest in Broward County since bailing out of the Pinellas County Jail on Nov. 10. Banton, 37, whose real name is Mark Myrie, wants to perform a live concert in Miami on Dec. 26. U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony Porcelli denied that request Tuesday, saying whatever financial pressures Banton faces do not outweigh the risk that he might flee. Banton’s attorney Wednesday asked the judge to reconsider, saying the 24-hour security detail ordered to monitor Banton as a condition of his release costs $20,000 a month. Plus, there’s the cost of preparing for his upcoming drug trafficking retrial. Banton’s security detail does not object to him doing the concert and would be present for the show, his lawyer says. The prosecutor does object. No word on whether he would attend.
Source: Tampabay.com