Monday, September 14, 2015

Raggamuffin promoter Andrew McManus arrested

Raggmuffin Festival promoter Andrew McManus was arrested at Melbourne Airport late last week. The Age reports that the arrest was "in connection with an alleged importation of 300 kilograms of cocaine and money laundering.

"Mr McManus, 54, was among five people arrested in Australia and the United States on Thursday following an international investigation, sparked by the discovery of a suitcase filled with $700,000 cash at Sydney's Hilton Hotel."

McManus claimed the cash was his, saying it "was the proceeds from a Lenny Kravitz tour and he had used about 20 crew members to 'sneak' the cash in from New Zealand."

Stuff.co.nz reported that ''Raggamuffin representatives had no comment regarding McManus' arrest or whether there would be any implications for the festival."  McManus's arrest has been reported in Jamaica.

Updated: Jamaica Observer published a story on Mon 21 Sept saying 'There has been no update on the status of the February 20 Raggamuffin Music Festival, which is in doubt with the legal troubles of its founder and main organiser Andrew McManus."

However the NZ Herald published a statement from  McManus last Thursday (Sept 17) that said "Kiss' concert at Auckland's Vector Arena, and the Raggamuffin music festival at Trusts Arena in West Auckland on February 20, would go ahead as planned."

Previous posts: Herbs vs Raggamuffin (March 26 2011), Raggamuffin rumblings (Dec 8 2010),Raggamuffin cancels Aust shows (2012) Ali Campbell owed $ by Raggamuffin (2012)

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