Church leader charged with 7 counts of rape in Hanover – children among suspected victims

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) said a man identified as a church leader has been charged with seven counts of Rape, and is being further investigated regarding several allegations of sexual misconduct involving children in his community.

The police did not disclose the identity of the accused, who is from Hanover.

He is to appear in the Hanover Parish Court on Tuesday, December 17, to answer to the charge of Rape.

The JCF said a patrol team arrested the man on Monday, December 10, after it observed him beating a child at Barnes Lane in the Mount Pellier area of Sandy Bay, Hanover.

The JCF added: “After conducting follow-up enquiries, the sexual misconduct allegations came to the fore, and detectives from the Hanover Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse were called in to bolster the investigative team. Investigations turned up several allegations of sexual misconduct concerning children in the community. After collecting several statements, the man was subsequently charged.”

The JCF, in the meantime, said investigators are appealing to persons who may have been victims of the man, or who may have any information that can assist them, to contact the Hanover CISOCA at 876-953-5312 or 956-2304, police 119 emergency number, or the nearest police station.

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