JUDGE DENIED BUJU TO PERFORM.

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International reggae artiste Buju Banton, who has been out on bail but under house arrest pending retrial in February 2011 on drug conspiracy charges, apparently made an application to perform at a live concert in Miami on December 26, but this request, was denied by U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony Porcelli.

 The judge reportedly said that whatever financial pressures Banton faces do not outweigh the risk that he might flee.

 His lawyer reportedly asked the judge to reconsider, saying the 24-hour security detail ordered to monitor Banton as a condition of his release costs a hefty US$20,000 a month, not to mention the cost of preparing for his upcoming retrial. In other words, Banton needs to earn some money, and this concert would have been a good way to do so.