A magistrate in Accra has set a total of 100,000-cedi bail for dancehall artistes Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy after prosecutors brought charges against them over their near-bloody scuffle at Saturday’s Vodafone Ghana Music Awards night.
Their lawyers had argued for a self-recognisance bail on grounds that the two accused persons were known figures in the music industry and would avail themselves for the trial.
Though prosecutors did not oppose the request for bail, they asked the court to let the two artistes to sign a bond to be of good behaviour.
But the magistrate, Isaac Addo, rejected the request of self-recognisance bail, and set their bail condition at 50,000 cedis each with one surety.
Both stars are charged with issuing threats and using abusive words with the intent to disturb public peace, with Stonebwoy facing count of displaying weapon in public place without permission. The gun is an Australian gun INFK 158 with butt number AA792002017.
They have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Before adjourning the case to June 20, the magistrate asked the the accused persons to be of good behaviour in the course of the trial and warned them against any acts that could impede the case.
Background
The claim by Shatta and Stonebwoy for dancehall supremacy in the country has festered on for years creating enmity between the two artistes and their followers.
The rivalry between the two hit the roof in the wee hours of Sunday causing Stonebwoy to pull out a handgun on stage.
Stonebwoy who had just been declared winner of the 2019 Reggae and Dancehall Artiste of the Year, was on stage to receive his award when Shatta Wale and his multitude of fans decided to mount the stage with him in what some perceived to be in a confrontational manner leading to the scuffle.
But for the intervention of the security at the auditorium who managed to quell the tension and bring the situation under control, the scuffle could have turned bloody.
The two artistes who were invited by the police for questioning have since been charged and being processed for court.
Many critics have condemned the loudmouth artiste for his decision to mount the stage uninvited and accused him for starting the scuffle which marred the beauty of the prestigious awards ceremony.
I meant no harm
But Shatta Wale has rejected the criticisms of his action on the night and justified same, stating he only mounted the stage to congratulate Stonebwoy for winning the Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the year.
According to Shatta Wale, the idea to “congratulate him [Stonebwoy] on his win in the spirit of unity,” was suggested to him by a member of his entourage for the night only to be “met with confrontation instigated by Blakk Cedi, Manager of Stonebwoy”
By 3news.com|Ghana