By LEIGHTON WILLIAMS and CAROLYN JOHNSON, Staff Reporters
CHEAPNESS OR SUPERSTITION, have forced some persons to retain the service of obeah products for court cases rather than lawyers.
The potions which go by names such as 'Just Judge', 'Court Case' and 'Alleged Oil Court' are among some of the potions used by persons who want 'spiritual intervention' in their court cases.
"Sometime yu see de oil pu dung an paper ova dem wid de police man name," a worker at the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court told THE WEEKEND STAR. This is supposed to prevent the police officer from coming to court.
"One a de oil a fi de police an one fi de judge," another worker said. She said that at times they find powders and other potions in the courtroom.
She said; "Dem come before de courthouse open, an mash up de egg, mussi four dozen egg. Dem mash up ackee to."
The ancillary staff at the court said that during a search one man was found with a powdery substance in his pocket. The powder was called 'Keep Devil Away.'
Other substances are used as lotion or perfume. "Yeah man, dem stink wid e wen dem come. Dem tek e rub dem like lotion," the ancillary worker added.
Checks by THE WEEKEND STAR have found that the oils are available for sale in some of the pharmacies in downtown, Kingston.
The pharmacies seem to be doing booming business in the sale of courthouse potions. When THE WEEKEND STAR visited the first pharmacy we were told that they were out of court potions and we were referred to another pharmacy. The attendant said no other oil would help.
These 'obeah oils' are available as candles, perfumes, bathes, air freshener, powders and oils.
When THE WEEKEND STAR visited the second pharmacy, this mystic section was being restocked. Here an attendant said court potions were available. Candles to 'burn out' an unfavourable verdict cost $240. Oils were available for $135 while 'baths' are sold for $160 and $85. "All a dem work. Depends on how you use it," the attendant said.
She added that people bought the oils, sprays and baths regularly and most came from overseas. She was unwilling to say which ones were local. Of course there were others in the series for relationships, luck, and dealing with neighbours.
Spiritual people
As to whether they work or not remains to be seen. But, an instruction on one of the bottles stated that the user had to 'pour half the court case bath into a pail of warm water, stir the mixture while reading Psalm 23'. The user was also encouraged to scrub their floor while concentrating on their desires. The manufacturers obviously had globalistion in mind as there are instructions on the bottle in Spanish.
After following these steps if the user was still not satisfied then he or she could use the oil as a perfume.
The police are not convinced that the potions work and they say the manufacturers of these products can be charged.
"It's obviously not working because the judges today are spiritual people and if it works it is probably backwards with the persons being convicted," said Superintendent Gladstone Wright of St. Andrew Central
He was unable to remember if anyone had ever been arrested for taking obeah oils to court but said those who practice obeah could be charged under the Obeah Act.
Under the Obeah Act of 1898, persons found with the oils, if convicted were liable to a fine not exceeding $100 or be imprisoned for a term not exceeding 12 months. The law also states that the police could also seize the oils and the retailer could be also be flogged. But, with flogging outlawed and $100 being equivalent to less than one pound sterling the guilty persons could escape with a slap on the wrist.
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