Entertainer Michael Barnes, who was held at the Sangster International Airport in February 2008 with 19 rounds of ammunition in his hand luggage, was taken to prison yesterday to start serving his prison sentence for illegal possession of the ammunition.

Barnes was fined $6 million or four years' imprisonment after Supreme Court Judge Donald McIntosh convicted him in June 2008 of the offence.

He appealed to the Court of Appeal but last year a judge turned down his application for leave to appeal. Barnes was on bail pending the outcome of his application.

The surety was asked to take Barnes to the police and they turned up yesterday at the Court of Appeal. Barnes was taken into custody.

He is now taking steps to have his appeal heard by a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal.

The Crown's evidence at his trial said that on February 17, 2008, Barnes arrived into the island from the USA and was going through the security checkpoint at the airport when an unusual object was seen in his suitcase. He was taken to the search room and when the suitcase was opened, 19 rounds of ammunition were found in one of the compartments in his hand luggage.

Barnes said in his defence that he had no knowledge that the rounds of ammunition were in the suitcase. He said while he was in the USA, he borrowed the suitcase from one 'Yaso Bell'.

Barnes, 41, who is also called 'Bachelous' is a musician, singer and disc jockey of Christian Pen, Portmore, St Catherine, and performs locally and abroad.