TWO Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldiers who were caught on camera physically abusing a man in front of the Westminister Crescent, St Andrew, home/studio of embattled reggae singer, Luciano, have been taken off front-line duties.

Minister of National Security Minister Colonel Trevor MacMillan, in a release yesterday, said he received an update from the JDF that the soldiers, a sergeant and a corporal, had been temporarily relieved of their duties.

Last Wednesday, the man – who residents claimed was mentally challenged – breached police security lines at Luciano’s home where 37-year-old Andrew Senior, also known as ‘Shooty Shooty’ or ‘Conqueror’, was shot dead in an alleged two-and-a-half hour gun battle with the police. Three cops were also shot and injured in the incident. They are still in hospital.

The man got engaged in a heated conversation with a female police officer, who warned him that he was about to contaminate a crime scene.

During the argument, soldiers and police crowded the man and one of the soldiers slapped him in the chest before delivering a crunching blow to the side of the man’s face. Another soldier then hit the man in his head with a police baton before he was carted away from the scene.

The incident drew cries of condemnation from members of the public and prompted MacMillan to demand a report from the JDF on the issue.

Yesterday, MacMillan said the sergeant had already been disciplined by the army and that an investigation into the actions of the corporal was still ongoing.

“Investigations have been completed in relation to the sergeant who has since been charged and punished,” the release stated.

MacMillan, who had also decried the actions of the army men, said Government was committed to stamping out human rights violations by members of the security forces.

Luciano, whose name is Jephter McLymont, has since been charged with harbouring a wanted fugitive after spending last weekend in jail.

He was released after his attorney, Delano Franklyn, filed a writ of habeus corpus on Monday. Luciano is expected to answer to the charge in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court

next Thursday.