MONTEGO BAY, St James — A foul stench like rotting food, unmade beds, mattresses on floors and children who appeared malnourished were among the observations made by State officials who raided the Qahal Yahweh group’s premises in Paradise Norwood, St James in 2023.

The unpleasant sight was outlined by an employee of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) who was on the stand on Monday. The children officer/investigator was the first of two witnesses to testify on the first day of the trial of 16 members of the St James-based group. They are charged with several counts of breaches of the Child Care and Protection Act.

The 10-year veteran of the CPFSA told the St James Parish Court that on June 7, 2023, about 4:30 am, she and members of the JCF, JDF and others from the CPFSA went to premises at Paradise Norwood where the Qahal Yahweh group was located.

The witness described seeing bunk beds, soiled clothes, buckets and basins of water, and damp ceilings with visible electric wires hanging from them inside buildings on the compound.

According to the witness, there was an upstairs room with an unmade bed and utensils covered in food particles, indicating that they had not been washed.

She also testified that the bathrooms, bedrooms, and general gathering area emitted an unpleasant odour similar to rotting food. There was another room with pamphlets and an unmade bed, and the room was generally disorganised.

She described another building with a garbage bag full of dirty clothes. The children at the residence, she claimed, appeared malnourished, the females’ hair was unkempt, and there was an unusual aroma emanating from the children, implying that personal hygiene was not being practiced.

“My aim was to ensure that they are in a safe environment. At that time, I did not deem it as safe,” the witness said.

Following the operation, she stated that she informed her team members of her findings, and the decision was made to have the children removed.

Meanwhile, the second prosecution witness testified that she was given a birth certificate by Franchain Paris, one of the 16 defendants, which she then photocopied.

Paris was identified in court.

The 16 defendants on trial are Christopher Anderson, Nekeisha Harding, Derrick Clarke, Roanalee Maitland, Alicia Meadley, Fabian Nelson, Franchain Paris, Jodian Spence, Jose Foskin, Oral Spence, Rayon Letman and Ingrid Williams, Omar Johnson, Jevaughn Johnson, Vera Woolery and Melisha Thompson.

They were taken into custody during a joint special operation of the security forces at their Paradise Avenue religious compound in Montego Bay, on June 30, last year.

The charges came only three weeks after the children of many of the accused were placed in State care.

The Qahal Yahweh compound, which is two doors away from the late Kevin Smith’s Pathway International Kingdom Restoration Ministries, made headlines in 2019 when authorities raided the property, leading to the arrest of the church’s leader and the removal of 23 children from the compound.

The raid followed months of allegations by residents concerned about the children’s safety.

The 16 defendants, who are all represented by King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, had their bails extended until June 6 when the trial will resume.

Another defendant, Rebecca Gallimore, was given a probation order and the case against her dismissed on a previous court date.