Other boys are alleging molestation
–Ms Ann Green
DIRECTOR of the Child Protection Agency, Ms Ann Green, has confirmed reports that two other lads have indicated to the authorities that they had also been molested by a Muslim scholar and Imam who has been accused of sexually molesting several lads.
In an interview with this newspaper yesterday, Green informed that police had taken the youngsters into custody in order to get their statements in relation to what had transpired between them and the Imam.
Asked what would flow from this specific case, Green said she would not be able to say why the accused has not as yet been charged.
She maintained that there was enough evidence to place the accused before the court. There was substantial evidence from the medical reports on the four lads, and the accused should not have been granted bail.
She added that there is no law mandating the matter to go before the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) when there is confirmation that the accused is guilty of the offence for which he has been accused.
The issue reportedly came to light after the Child Protection Agency had been informed via numerous telephone calls. The mother of the children said she was enlightened on the issue when a Welfare Officer visited her home last week Monday evening with her three children.
She said she had just arrived home from selling on Regent Street, and did not see the children; instead, they arrived in a car with the official.
Based on the information provided, the woman allegedly believes that her sons had been sexually assaulted between December 2011 and January 2012.
The mother said the occurrence might have come to light because other children might have lodged complaints, although the man allegedly threatened to kill them with a gun, which he had allegedly shown them.
Police reports indicate that the man allegedly committed the act on several other boys, but law enforcement authorities are awaiting a response from those persons to determine the outcome of those investigations.
The suspect was arrested on the evening after the parent was informed, but he was later released on station bail.
Several religious organizations and other officials have condemned the act, and are calling for a thorough investigation into the matter, so that justice can be served.