Newly crowned International Soca Monarch (check out performance above) and winner of the 2011 Trinidad Carnival Road March, Machel Montano made a court appearance last week (Mar. 10) to answer to five charges with which he was slapped for an April 2007 incident. (Rahtid, I know we can be slow in the Caribbean but four years to get to court!!!)
The charges arose out of a brawl at the Zen Nightclub in Port of Spain and allegedly stem from a drink being spilled on Machel Montano and his dance partner at the club. Montano was placed on $50 000 bail. Three other Trinidadian entertainers were also charged along with Montano. They are Kernal Roberts whose bail was fixed at $25 000, Joel Zan Fezeck was granted $50 000 bail and Rodney Benjai Le Blanc $30 000.
Allegedly, Montano and his entourage got into a brawl with several persons at the Zen club. The brawl continued outside the nightclub and one of the patrons, Russell Pollonais of Princess Town, was beaten unconscious by Montano and his entourage. Montano, Fezeck and Roberts are also charged with assaulting Brandis Brown and the Soca Monarch is also to answer a charge of assaulting Jenelle Le Chee and Gerard Bowrin, as well as using obscene language.
Montano is one of Trinidads most popular Soca sensations. He is also a record producer and songwriter. Apart from taking Trinidads 2011 International Soca Monarch title, he was also named the 2011 Road March winner. He was the front man for the Xtatik Band and was made popular by songs such as Jumbie, One More Time and Blazing De Trail.
The matter has been adjourned and will resume at a later date.
