Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
PATRICK ROBERTS, chief executive officer of Shocking Vibes Productions, must be released from police custody by this evening if he is not charged in connection with gang violence in the South St. Andrew constituency, Resident Magistrate Martin Gayle ruled yesterday.
Mr. Roberts, who was detained along with brothers George and Andrew Phang, appeared with his lawyer Valerie Neita-Robertson yesterday in the Half-Way Tree Resident Magistrate's Court where Ms. Neita-Robertson filed a habeas corpus writ Wednesday.
"The court says he must be released by 6:00 p.m. or charged," Ms. Neita-Robertson told The Gleaner.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mark Shields, who was also in court, said members of the Flying Squad who are leading investigations into Mr. Roberts' alleged links to gangs in the community of Craig Town, are continuing their probe.
"Our inquiries will continue throughout today (yesterday) until tomorrow (today) and then we will make a decision on whether to charge Mr. Roberts with an offence or release him," said DCP Shields.
NOT YET INTERROGATED
He told The Gleaner that up until 4:00 p.m. yesterday, the three men had not yet been interrogated. The fate of the Phangs was unknown as attorney-at-law, Churchill Neita, who is representing George Phang, is reportedly off the island.
Meanwhile, Ms. Neita-Robertson said the ordeal has embarrassed her client.
"He is very distraught about the bad publicity he has received both here and abroad, which is affecting him and his business," she said.
Mr. Roberts is a founder of Shocking Vibes Productions which has roots in Craig Town, a community that is adjacent to Jones Town. The company manages the careers of several dancehall acts including Grammy winner Beenie Man.
Mr. Roberts remains an influential figure in Craig Town, but talk surfaced in south St. Andrew last year that he was in a feud with the Phangs, longstanding pillars of the Jones Town community. Mr. Roberts has denied this.
There have been several violent outbreaks in south St. Andrew since George Phang was shot by gunmen in Jones Town in March 2003. Police said the fighting has intensified during the past three months with at least 50 people being murdered.
