The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has launched a manhunt for a former member of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) who is accused of raping his girlfriend’s daughter for the past four years, starting when she was only 12 years old.

Jamaica Observer sources say the mother was interviewed at the police Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) on Tuesday after the matter was reported by the child who is now 16 years old.

According to Observer sources, the ex-soldier started raping the child while he slept at her mother’s house in the Red Hills area of St Andrew.

The sources say the victim’s older sister was often on the bed while the ex-soldier abused her but that sibling was sworn to secrecy.

“The older sister would beat the younger one whenever she complained about being raped as the ex-soldier was providing financial support for the family,” said one Observer source.

“The mother also claimed that she did not want to report the matter as she did not want him to lose his job,” added the source.

According to the source, the case could be made public today (Wednesday) as the police could seek help to find the ex-soldier.

“Investigators are considering laying charges against the mother and the older daughter as they were well aware that the 12-year-old was being raped.

“The JDF has said it cannot help to find him as he is no longer a member of the army so it is up to us to find him,” added the source.

Efforts to get an official comment from the JCF were unsuccessful on Tuesday. Senior Superintendent of Police Maldria Jones-Williams, the head of CISOCA, declined to comment, while Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey, who is overseas, said he was not aware of the case.

In July CISOCA renewed its call for parents and guardians to be careful when choosing caregivers for their children.

CISOCA, in a release, said, with many children at home because of the summer holidays, local authorities usually witness a surge in incidents of abuse because children, left under the care of neighbours or family members, often fall prey to these custodians.

The release reported Jones-Williams as saying the advent of technology further compounds the worrying trend, with unsupervised screen time exposing children to online predators.

She said in light of these concerns law enforcers were encouraging parents to be alert and also careful when choosing caregivers for their children.

Jones-Williams also called for open dialogue between parents and their children about the repercussions of indiscriminate sexual encounters, such as unexpected pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and the emotional trauma associated with these experiences.