The St James-based religious group Qahal Yahweh, which is now the centre of a series of police investigations regarding allegations of breaches of the Child Care Protection Act, has retained King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie as their attorney.

This after 18 persons were charged with breaches of the Child Care and Protection Act as investigations continue into activities that have taken place at compound in Paradise, St James.

Those charged have been granted bail and are scheduled to appear before the Saint James Parish Court on July 19, 2023.

In the meantime, seven other individuals were arrested on reasonable suspicion of involvement in other offences. They were placed in safe custody pending further investigations.

The charges come following several inquiries, interviews, and recording of statements after a multi-agency operation was conducted on June 30, 2023, in partnership with the Ministry of Health.

READ: Police conducting operation at Bayith Yahweh religious compound in St James

As a result of this operation, twenty-two individuals were escorted to the Montego Bay police station for questioning. They are:

• Rebecca Gallimore & Christopher Anderson

• Jodian Spence & Oral Spence:

• Jose Foskin

• Engrid Williams

• Rayon Letman

• Francine Paris

• Roanalee Maitland

• Fabian Nelson

• Melisha Thompson & Javaughn Thompson

• Alicia Medley-Bennett

• Nickeisha Harding & Derrick Clarke

• Omar Thompson

• Vera Wollery

• Neil Spence

The offences range from breaches of the Child Care & Protection Act to breaches of the Marriage Act.

READ: UPDATE: Over 20 children removed from Bayith Yahweh compound over abuse claims

Following their interviews, all accused were offered station bail and are booked to appear in the St James Parish Court.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) says their “ongoing investigations aim to arrest and charge other individuals implicated in the offences detected”.

The JCF says it remains “steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the rights and wellbeing of children” and will vigorously pursue all available avenues to ensure justice is served.