(Jamaica Gleaner) The Hanover-based pastor who was arrested and charged last week following allegations that he sexually molested several children in the parish will spend Christmas behind bars as he was remanded when he appeared in the Hanover Parish Court yesterday.
He is scheduled to return to court on January 26, 2020.
The true identity of the pastor has not been established as police investigations have revealed that he has been using the names Ricardo Palmer, Oneil Palmer, and Phillip Scott.
When the accused pastor appeared in court yesterday, his attorney, Chumu Paris, made a bail application on his behalf. However, the police urged the presiding judge to reject the application. The police said that they are still investigating additional complaints against the churchman, who is facing seven counts of rape.
During yesterday’s court sitting, several women converged on the courthouse calling for the head of the accused pastor, who they claim had molested family members.
“Him wicked and him fi go a prison … ,” an irate woman said. “Dem churchman yah love likkle pickney too much.”
Some of the onlookers lashed out at the parents, arguing that they should not have allowed their children to be in the unsupervised company of the pastor.
“Di parents too worthless and licky-licky, and dem fi stop it,” said one woman. “Some a dem must did know wha a gwaan … . Dem turn a blind eye … . Some a dem fi go a jail to.”
According to reports, last Monday, police officers were on patrol in the Montpelier community in Sandy Bay when they saw the accused pastor beating a girl on Barnes Lane. The police, who stopped to investigate the incident, were reportedly told by the child that she had been sexually assaulted by the pastor.
Officers assigned to the Hanover branch of CISOCA were called in to assist with the investigation. It was subsequently revealed that several children in the community were making similar allegations against the accused, who is said to be the assistant pastor at Mount Ephraim Zion True Fellowship Church, which is also located on Barnes Lane.
