Pamela Collins is determined to seek justice on her son's behalf, even if it means flying from Canada, to do it herself.

Collins' son, Marco, 22, was reportedly beaten by a group of soldiers on Barnett Street, Montego Bay, last Friday and she is livid at the very thought that her child would be so brutally attacked for no reason.

Marco, who does masonry and art, told THE STAR that he was standing with a female friend sometime after 11 p.m., when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Without looking around to see who it was, he threw off the hand. He however soon learnt, that the hand belonged to a soldier, who demanded that he move to another section of the street.

"Im tell mi fi go ova deh so and den him search mi. When mi a walk off now, another soldier call mi an den him jus start kick mi pan mi foot and den him fist mi inna mi side and box mi inna mi face," he said.

He continued, "Im tell mi fi go inna di jeep an wen mi a get ready fi siddung, im tell mi seh mi nuffi go pan him seat. Him did a go use di gun fi butt mi, but one next soldier come an stop him." He said he was not disrespectful in any way to the men and complied with all their requests to provide his address and full name.

Verbally assaulted

He also revealed that he was unable to get an idea of the identity of those who attacked him as they told him to look away. He also said he was verbally assaulted during the attack and was repeatedly asked why he was crying.

Eventually, a police officer who noticed Marco in the vehicle, asked why he was there and after getting more information from him, he was freed.

Since the attack, he has had trouble standing straight and sleeping well because of the pain in his side and the mental scars are also something he is contending with.

Not a wrongdoer

His mother told THE STAR that her son was not a wrongdoer and said she could not understand why he would be harassed while going about his legal business. "My kid never, and I can put my head and everything on this kid, never do anything wrong. What gives them the right to hit him?

The matter has not yet been reported to the police because Marcosays he was advised that he could not do so without a badge number. His mother however, is determined to get to the bottom of it. "I could be here and jus hear dat my son dead in Jamaica. Before dem patrol an go ketch criminal but no, dem a do it wit di innocent. Mi naw stop till mi get mi justice!"

In a statement to THE STAR, Major Charlene Steer, staff officer for Civil Military Cooperation said, " The Jamaica Defence Force takes seriously every report of excesses by its members, whether on or off duty.

Members of the public who have been mistreated or believe that their rights have been breached by members of the JDF are encouraged to report the matter to the police and/or JDF, at the earliest opportunity. All reports will be investigated expeditiously and with due care. The complainant will be informed of the outcome of the investigation and should the allegations be substantiated, the appropriate action will be taken against those persons found culpable."

She also said, "'Information about the case in question came to the JDF's attention through The Gleaner's enquiry.

The JDF therefore asked this person to trust the due process of an investigation and to formally report his experience to the JDF so that the matter can be duly investigated and appropriately dealt with'. "

According to Major Steer, reports can be made by calling the JDF's Duty Officer at 960-8776 or 960-7361 and by providing a signed statement to the JDF Provost Unit (Military Police) at Up Park Camp, or at the nearest military base.

*Name changed.