CDA expresses interest in Taddeo's assault case

The Child Development Agency (CDA) has expressed an interest in the case involving businessman Elia 'Leo' Taddeo, who is charged with sexual touching of two females.

This was disclosed when the matter was called up in the St Catherine Circuit Court last Friday but it is not yet clear what role the CDA will play.

On Friday, Justice Bertram Morrison approved a variation in the bail condition of the businessman after his attorney, Bert Samuels, applied for the change.

"My client, as a part of his bail, could not travel on the Caymanas leg of the North South High Way. My client is a businessman and needs to access the thoroughfare to tend to business in a neighbouring parish," Samuels told the court.

He argued that his client is to report to the police three times each week and was not allowed to use that section of the toll road despite travelling to the north coast regularly.

Samuels also requested that the accused be allowed to visit Canada where his sister is gravely ill, but while Justice Morrison lifted the ban on Taddeo using the toll road, he said he was not inclined to release the travel documents.

The judge told the defence that with one witness not co-operating and another reportedly cannot be found, he would wait until October 19, 2017 when the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is expected to give guidance as to the way forward.

The allegations before the court are that Taddeo touched the complainants inappropriately. He was charged following a report to the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse.

Taddeo has so far made numerous court appearances during which allegations have surfaced that he is the target of an extortion racket.

When the matter was last heard in the Spanish Town Parish Court, Samuels said the person to whom the complaints were allegedly made was being investigated for extortion against Taddeo.

The Sunday Gleaner sources later indicated that two of the complainants had given additional statements to the police in which they admitted that they were part of an extortion plot against the businessman.