Jamaica- Church Suspends Pastor In Sex Crime Probe

(Jamaica- Gleaner) The 60-year-old Moravian minister at the centre of a sex crime probe involving a 15-year-old girl in St Elizabeth has been suspended from the church with immediate effect pending the outcome of the criminal probe.

The president of the Moravian Churches in Jamaica, Rev Dr Paul Gardner says the allegations against the Manchester-based pastor are very serious and cannot be condoned in any way.

Reverend Gardner says the incident has ignited considerations for a review of church protocols in dealing with the issue of inappropriate behaviour among members of the clergy:

The pastor was arrested on Wednesday night and is now facing the possibility of the rape and carnal abuse of a 15-year-old girl.

The police report that about 9 o’clock, a team was on patrol in a community near Black River when they observed a parked car that aroused their suspicion.

They went to investigate and reportedly found the pastor in a compromising position with the child.

He was immediately taken into police custody.

The police have since opened a wider investigation into sex crimes allegedly perpetrated by the Moravian minister.

On Thursday (December 29, 2016), police investigators spent several hours questioning a parent of the child and other family members.