Prison Officials Deny Putting Kartel on Lockdown; Confirm Phones Were Found on Deejay

K. BrownMay 26, 2023, 12:20 PM

Amid reports that incarcerated artiste Vybz Kartel is being sabotaged in prison, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has denied putting him on lockdown and confirmed seizing two cell phones from the deejay.

In an Instagram update made on an associate page of Kartel on Thursday, it was alleged that the superintendent at the Tower Street Correctional Centre was actively working against Kartel. Kartel was allegedly singled out of over 1,700 inmates after a phone was found on his block.

Though phones are reportedly found at the prison daily, the Unstoppable deejay was allegedly placed under lockdown in a poorly ventilated cell despite his poor health. No other inmate is said to have been punished in this manner.

However, according to reports from the Jamaica Gleaner, the DCS has launched an investigation as two cell phones were seized not from Kartel’s block but from the artiste himself. Reports state that one of the phones was seized last Friday, and the other was discovered in his possession during a search on Sunday.

According to the DCS, Kartel was among three inmates who were found with cell phones. The DCS denied placing Kartel on lockdown and disclosed that his movement was restricted pending the result of the investigation.

The department further shared with the news outlet that the artiste is in his usual cell and indicated that they had not received any complaints from Kartel regarding his health.

The deejay is currently serving a life sentence and will not be eligible for parole until he has served a minimum of 32 years.

K. BrownMay 26, 2023, 12:20 PM