‘Beating the devil out of them’

WESTERN BUREAU:

In attempts to cast demons out of female members of the Qahal Yahweh religious group, investigators are claiming that the heads and pubic areas of the women at the Paradise, Norwood, compound in Montego Bay, St James, were shaved publicly and they were beaten severely by their leaders.

“They say they were beating the devil out of them, removing evil spirit from them, our investigations have revealed,” commanding officer in charge of St James, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vernon Ellis, told The Gleaner yesterday, five days after 22 members of the community were taken into custody at the Freeport Police Station.

Thirteen of the 22 were charged under the Childcare and Protection Act and are now out on bail and are set to answer the charges in the St James Parish Court on July 19, while seven others remain in jail under reasonable suspicion.

One man, a construction worker who was a suspect in a case of assault occasioning bodily harm, turned himself in and was interviewed extensively and charged by the police. He, too, remained in custody but has been offered bail.

Ellis is calling for individuals who may have been abused or assaulted over the years and who may have witnessed this happening to anyone to come forward with the information, which can be used to strengthen the case.

“We have information that some persons have fled the location because of being flogged or being threatened and are fearful for their lives,” he said. “We have information that persons would have seen what they thought at the time was right, and they allowed people to do things that were unlawful.”

Ellis, in the meantime, said he was encouraging those with knowledge to join the efforts of the police and come forward with more details now that the security forces have taken a course of action around it.

“They may either give their report to the CISOCA in Mt Salem or come to the Montego Freeport station, and we will handle the matter as professionally as we can,” he appealed.

Interviewed in the presence of attorney

According to the commanding officer, on Tuesday, between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., persons were interviewed in the presence of attorney Samoi Campbell, who is attached to the law offices of Peter Champagnie, K.C.

Another set was expected to be interviewed on Wednesday.

A former Qahal Yahweh leader, Shane Wise* in an exclusive interview with The Gleaner, recently said he and his wife were beaten by the leaders and that he wants them in prison.

Replaying the horrific incidents he said he saw while living on the compound, Wise claimed there were two sisters, ages 14 and 15, who were being groomed by a leader who took charge of them.

The leader, Wise said, moved the girls into his room and would walk with them, holding hands throughout the compound, while his wife, although uncomfortable, walked behind them.

“He would lay on the bed like a king, having them massage him. The two young women were forced to feed him. It reached the point where things got out of hand, and it seems he really wanted to have sex with them, but they were underage and only the main leaders were allowed more than one wife.”

Wise said the lower-level leader started beating the girls brutally, so much so that their faces were unrecognisable. An elderly man objected to the beating but was kicked in the abdomen, silencing him.

“The two girls were later pushed into a hole about seven feet deep that night. They never died, but they were hurt badly.”

* Name changed

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com