BY: FABIAN LEDGISTER, Staff Reporter
A FATHER FROM St. Elizabeth is now behind bars after his four month old infant daughter was sexually molested.
The 46-year-old farmer was charged with two counts of indecent assault, after a 'hide and seek' stand-off with the police.
Investigating officers at the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA), said that the mother of the child suspects that the child was being molested from February, when she was only two months of age.
"On one occasion, she (mother) went out to buy goods, and upon her return, the infant was crying non-stop. When she checked the infant's pampers (diapers), she saw blood and a scar on her vagina," said the investigating officer at CISOCA, Corporal Sara Webster.
The centre was first made aware of the matter on June 12, 2006, when they were contacted by the Bustamante Children's Hospital, to investigate a sus-pected case of sexual mole-station.
From investigations, it is alleged that the infant was molested on several occasions, including the most recent incident which led to the child having to get medical attention.
"On Saturday the 10th (June, 2006), the couple left St. Elizabeth with the child to stay with the accused sister in Waterford, Portmore. The sister and mother left for a short while, and upon their return the child was screaming constantly," said Corporal Webster.
The infant was examined by the mother, who saw heavy swelling on the left side of her vagina.
The following Monday, the distraught mother took the infant to the Waterford Health Clinic, where she was instructed to go to the Bustamante Children's Hospital. The hospital reported the matter to CISOCA.
Medical reports revealed that the infant had tears to her vagina and anus. The infant's hymen was broken and there were marks on the baby's vagina, that appeared to be bite marks. Rashes were also on the left breast and the mouth of the child.
A police team from St. Elizabeth went to the accused man's home to arrest him but were initially unable to find him. However, checks in the area revealed that he was in fact, somewhere hiding in the house.
"He was held on the 21st of June, after he was found hiding in the roof of a night club located on his residing premises," said Corporal Webster.
CISOCA confirmed that this has been the youngest case of sexual molestation, since the start of the year.
The inspector in charge of the centre, Duetress Foster-Gardener, is warning parents to be alert for signs of sexual molestation in young children that are unable to communicate their abuse.
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