Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

WESTERN BUREAU

The reluctance of a woman to give a statement to the police in her daughter's carnal-abuse matter, dating back to August 2005, has resulted in the case being adjourned sine die.

The ruling was made for 34-year-old barber, Clive Thomas of Anchovy, St. James, when he appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

"It is against the law for you to have sex with a child under 16, even if she says yes please," RM Winsome Henry told Thomas. "When you see young girls, stay away from them and if you are not sure of their age, ask them to show you their birth certificate."

The sine die ruling was made after the investigating officer informed the court that the mother of the complainant has always expressed an unwillingness to give a statement and that the only statement on the file was that of the complainant.

She also told the court about her difficulty in locating the child and her mother.

Attorney-at-law Lambert Johnson represented Mr. Thomas.

Thomas was alleged to have taken a 14-year-old girl to his home where they had consensual sexual intercourse. On his way back into Montego Bay, he was pulled over for speeding.

The police became suspicious when they saw the minor in the passenger seat. Both Thomas and the girl were taken to the Anchovy Police Station where the girl's mother was called and in her presence, the child disclosed what had taken place.