Buju Banton looses appeal against conviction

Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton has lost his appeal against his conviction on cocaine conspiracy and trafficking charges.

A three-judge panel of the 11^th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta Georgia in the United States ruled today that the evidence presented at the trial supported Buju's 2011 conviction in Tampa Federal Court.

Buju whose real name is Mark Myrie was convicted and sentenced to ten years imprisonment.

His attorney, David O. Markus argued that a government informant had improperly entrapped the Grammy-winning singer.

The panel also agreed with the jury's conviction of Buju on a gun possession charge, which the trial judge had dismissed after the verdict was read.

The judges rejected Buju's argument that his right to a speedy trial had been violated.