Jamaican Dancehall Artist Adidja Azim Palmer popularly known as Vybz Kartel was released from prison days ago after spending 13 years in prison.
After his release, fans began commenting on his noticeable physical changes, particularly the swollen look of his face, which is often associated with Graves’ disease.
Graves disease is an autoimmune system condition. It affects the thyroid gland and causes the body to make excess thyroid hormone.
The dancehall star has reportedly been battling Grave’s disease since 2011.
His Health was among the factors considered by the Court of Appeal when it ordered that he and his co-appellants would not be retried for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.
“We looked at the medical problems relating to the appellant Palmer, which came through medical report… which speaks to declining health in the penal institution,” president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop, said in handing down the ruling on Wednesday.
Dr Karen Phillips, the physician who warned that Vybz Kartel could die if he does not have surgery, said that Kartel’s heart was operating below capacity. It was stated that Kartel had “lost 20 per cent of his heart’s function” from the capacity it was at this time last year [2023], and that puts him at greater risk for a heart attack.
The defense for Vybz’s case presented a sworn affidavit suggesting that if he did not receive treatment for his illnesses, they could prove fatal.
His legal team also claimed that he was living in conditions that caused his health to worsen. They stated that there was a lack of air circulation inside the cell and almost no water supply.