Police investigate threats against Hanna from Kartel fans
Published:Thursday | February 23, 2017 | 12:00 AMRomario Scott
The police are now reviewing security arrangements for South East St Ann Member of Parliament (MP) Lisa Hanna amid public threats made against her on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram over comments she made relating to dancehall DJ Vybz Kartel.
According to head of the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime (CTOC) branch Assistant Commissioner of Police Clifford Chambers, a profile of risk against Hanna - expected to be completed today - will inform the police as to whether additional security will be assigned to her.
"As it is right now, there is a certain additional risk profile that is being conducted, and based on the outcome of that, we will decide whether we are to increase her security," Chambers said, adding that in her capacity as MP, Hanna is assigned close protection personnel.
The police yesterday launched an investigation into the threats made against Hanna for the comments she made on radio on Tuesday about whether there should be a ban on music produced by incarcerated artistes such as Kartel.
During the discussion, Hanna questioned whether corruption is involved in the recording of songs by the incarcerated DJ.
Asked whether the music of convicted persons should be banned from the electronic media, Hanna responded, "... I am prepared to have that discussion [with a view to] coming to a decision that says, in the best interest of our country, we have to identify what rules are rules and what privileges are privileges. If you are convicted, perhaps it is [that] your music need not be played on the radio."
COULD BE HARMED
Since then, some social media users have issued death threats and have promised to withdraw their political support.
One user even suggested that the former beauty queen be raped as punishment for disrespecting Kartel.
Chambers told The Gleaner that a complaint made to the police by Hanna, who is also the opposition spokesperson on youth and culture, triggered the investigations as there is mounting concern that she could be harmed.
He said that the police have detected breach of some criminal threshold, where persons could be arrested and charged.
"We are going to go through the details, go through the messages, and try and link those messages with a sender," Chambers stated.
In the meantime, Chambers has again issued a warning to persons to desist from threatening Hanna as it is an offence and the perpetrators can be charged under Section 9 Subsection 1 of the Cyber Crimes Act as well as the Offences Against the Person Act.
The senior cop warned that the police would spare no effort to track down and charge persons for threatening people on social media.