The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has commenced an investigation into allegations that some of its members kidnapped and beat a resident of Lluidas Vale district in St Catherine because of dispute that started over a woman.
The Beacon has confirmed that personnel from the JDF visited Lluidas Vale on Saturday, and proceeded to the neighbouring community of Point Hill where the mastermind lives.
The JDF personnel, who found the mastermind at his home, informed him about the allegations made against him.
Our sources said law enforcers later took the mastermind from the community to face further interrogation, but, up to publication time, The Beacon was unable to verify that information.
In the meantime, the victim, Lucien Shawn Bembridge, spent much of yesterday at the Shady Grove Police Station in Lluidas Vale giving a statement about the incident.
He, in an exclusive interview late last week, said he was walking along the roadway in Point Hill earlier this month, when he saw a woman in a yard and asked if he could ‘wash her back’.
Bembridge said a man wearing plain clothes, who he didn’t know is a soldier, appeared and threatened to shoot him over the woman.
“A youth came out and threatened to shoot me for his woman. I said to him ‘mine a di last day yuh sit down pon that step’,” said Bembridge who is pictured above.
About a week later, on January 12, the man with whom Bembridge had the dispute over the woman in Point Hill paid Bembridge a surprise visit in Lluidas Vale district.
He made the trip in a JDF vehicle and was dressed in JDF uniform.
He was accompanied by two other men in JDF uniform, as well as another man who was wearing what appeared to be police uniform.
They four men allegedly ordered Bembridge to enter the JDF vehicle.
It is further alleged that they took him to a remote area of Lluidas Vale, beat him, and left him for dead along a roadway.
Bembridge, who is now unable to walk properly, has complained about severe pains in his chest, where some of the soldiers’ kicks landed.
He said he is unable to continue working as a handyman, adding that he can’t afford the medical fees he was told he has to pay. Bembridge also told The Beacon that he fears the soldiers may have him murdered.
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