Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A St. Elizabeth woman has run afoul of the law for allegedly knowingly allowing her 13-year-old daughter to be sexually molested by different men in exchange for money and food.

The woman's elder daughter has also been jointly charged with her.

Facing charges of aiding and abetting carnal abuse and cruelty to a child are Meleta Taylor, 47-year-old domestic helper, and 27-year-old Natalie Waite, herself a mother of three, both residing in the Balaclava Police Division in the parish.

At least four adult males are now on the run from police in connection with carnally abusing the 13-year-old girl. Up to press time yesterday, police confirmed they could not ascertain their whereabouts. The teenager has since been taken into state custody.

The Balaclava police are alleging that the child had been sexually molested on repeated occasions over an extended period. The matter was brought to the attention of the police only recently when they received reports that Anthony Peart, 32 years old, had carnally abused the youngster. Upon investigating, the police arrested and charged Peart with carnal abuse. Peart, who is originally of a Kingston address, had been living and working in St. Elizabeth.

On March 16, the 13-year-old was brought before the Santa Cruz Juvenile Court, reportedly for an order to be made as it was established that she was in need of care and protection. It was subsequently revealed that her mother and elder sister had been collecting money and food from persons who had been sexually molesting her.

Asking for mercy

In making a bail application on their behalf in the Santa Cruz Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, attorney-at-law Joseph Allen asked that the court be merciful in offering "low bail bonds".

The resident magistrate initially offered conditional bail to Ms. Taylor in the sum of $300,000 and to Waite in the sum of $200,000. However, Mr. Allen suggested that, given their dire economic background, it was virtually impossible for them to take up their bail and made another request that the bonds be lowered. The court exercised leniency and reduced each bond by 50 per cent with sureties.

Taylor and Waite are to report at the Balaclava Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. They are not allowed to have any contact with the teen while they remain on bail. They will next appear in court on April 23.