Laden is set to spend at least another week in police custody following his court hearing at the Black River Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The Dancehall artiste is being charged with illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, breaching the Disaster Risk Management Act, and failing to stop on the request of the police.
Laden was not physically present at the courthouse on Tuesday and was instead represented by his attorney Charles Benbow, who revealed that a bail hearing has been set for next Monday.
Until then, the deejay will have to remain in lock-up at the Black River police station.
According to police reports, about 10:40 pm Wednesday, law enforcement officers were in Cheapside, St Elizabeth, when they signalled the driver of a black Mercedes-Benz motor car to stop.
Laden, given name Okeefe Aarons, who was allegedly the driver of the vehicle, disobeyed the police’s order and sped off. The police gave chase.
During the chase, an object was observed being thrown from the sunroof of the vehicle.
When the police caught up with the vehicle, the occupants were arrested and taken back to the site where the object was witnessed being thrown from the car.
The area was searched, and a Hi-point 9mm pistol with a magazine containing one 9mm round of ammunition was discovered. Laden along with 21-year-old Saaion Ebanks and a 16-year-old boy were taken into custody, and subsequently charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.
Laden shot to fame after becoming a top-10 finalist on Digicel Rising Starsin 2006. He is known for songs like “Gal Coward,” “Feelings Too Heavy,” “Never Lonely,” and “Time Is Now.”
