Jamaican man arrested for raping 7-year-old cousin

Thursday, 25th January 2024

Man arrested for molesting his 7-year-old cousin in Jamaica (Representative Image)

Authorities in Jamaica arrested a 26-year-old who sexually assaulted his 7-year-old cousin in Trelawny. The incident reportedly came to light when the child's mother caught him red-handed. As per the 7-year-old girl's mother, she was looking for her daughter on Saturday when she discovered that her daughter's slippers were just outside the accused man Vernon's home.

Surprisingly, her daughter opened the door, and the woman saw Vernon putting on his underwear. Later, the little chil told the entire story to her mother upon questioning, and told she was sexually assaulted.

The incident was immediately reported to the Ulster Spring Police Station following which the police investigated and apprehended the suspect. The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) launched an investigation into the incident on Sunday and he was charged with rape on Monday. The CEO of the CPFSA, Laurette Adams-Thomas, said that the agency was made aware of this incident, after which they investigated the matter. She also added that the team will offer the victim and her family psychological support and any other forms of necessary intervention. Furthermore, the CEO added that the trauma of sexual abuse can live with victims throughout their lives, which is why CPFSA condemns all types of child abuse. Adams-Thomas went on to encourage the general public to report any and all forms of child abuse and asked them to call the 24-hour child abuse reporting hotline 211. She said that ending abuse against the children must be prioritised, particularly as it can affect their mental and psychological development and influence the kind of adults which they may grow up to be. Several social media users have also condemned the brutal incident and asked for brutal punishments for the accused. "Castrate these Mongreal Dogs Unless Justice System won't be Strict with their Verdict these Mongreal Dogs Won't stop their act," wrote a user named Neeraj Bhojwani. In contrast, another user named Gill said, "So sad go get a grown woman he needs to get his stuff cut off so he can't molest no more kids ~Lock him up and throw away the key." Another user named Latoya Fox expressed her anger and said that police officials must start castrating some of these men. "The trauma they cause these girls, they will never get over. An experience of this lives with them forever. I also believe we have failed our girls, there is no justice for them. We draw them through the courts as they cause it on themselves. I hate a molester," she noted.