Beenie Man Wanted In Tax Evasion Case

Jamaican judge Owen Parkins yesterday (Oct. 23) issued a warrant for the arrest of Beenie Man after he failed to appear in court to answer tax evasion charges.

The 34-year-old dance hall artist, whose real name is Anthony Moses Davis, was scheduled to appear in court to tell how he planned to pay U.S. $415,000 in unpaid taxes plus U.S. $246,000 in penalties owed for more than a decade.

"I am surprised that he has not appeared before me," Judge Owen Parkins said before issuing the warrant. "This case is well publicized and he should have been in court. No one is above the law."

Davis told the presiding magistrate that he was unaware he owed that government such a large amount of money in outstanding taxes and that the company that formerly managed his business affairs was responsible for paying the taxes.

Beenie Man is one of the most successful dance hall artist to come out of Jamaica, he won a Grammy award for Best Reggae Album for his 2000 release "Art and Life."