BUSY SIGNAL pleads ‘not guilty’ in Minnesota court

Jamaican musician BUSY SIGNAL, real name Glendale Gordon, has pleaded “not guilty” to one count of failure to appear in court and stands accused of fleeing the US to avoid a drugs trial 10 years ago.

Following his extradition to the US last week the singer answered to the charge in a Minnesota court on Monday (25 June) before the presiding judge ordered him detained, pending trial.

As reported in the Jamaica Observer he could face up to five years in prison if convicted on that count.

In February 2002 Gordon was charged with two counts related to cocaine trafficking, but fled before his trial started in Minnesota.

Assistant US attorney Andrew Dunn said in court that he has been a fugitive for the past decade.

Any future prosecution on the drug-related charges would have to be worked out between the Jamaican and US governments.

Last month Gordon was detained by members of the Fugitive Apprehension Team at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston after being deported from the UK where he was suspected of traveling with false documents.

Following his arrest in Jamaica he waived his rights to challenge his extradition to the US in order to fight the charge of failing to appear in court.

Sign the White House petition here to exonerate Glendale Gordon - also known as BUSY SIGNAL.