By Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

western bureau:

After learning that the witness and complainant in a rape case had left the island without any indication of when they would return, the matter was adjourned in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday.

The accused, Tafari Stanbury of Norwood, St. James has been in custody since July 22.

Stanbury said he breathed a sigh of relief when RM Winsome Henry made the order.

He was, however, remanded pending a bail application in a matter in which he is charged with six other inmates for possession and dealing in ganja and cocaine. The drug was allegedly recovered from the cell in which they were being held.

His attorney, Charles Sinclair, will make an application on December 6.

Stanbury is accused of abducting and raping a 20-year-old woman, whom he claimed was a lesbian, on February 6, this year. Allegations said he held the woman against her will for two days during which he allowed four other men to sexually assault her and even contemplated killing her.

It is also said that he allegedly raped her on four separate occasions when she was being held at his house.