Crystal Harrison, Star Writer

A taxi driver is now in police custody after allegations surfaced that he sexually assaulted a seven-year-old girl.

The incident reportedly occurred in St Elizabeth, last Tuesday afternoon.

According to reports, on the evening of the incident, the primary school girl and a male student were picked up after school by a private taxi in the parish. It is alleged that after the male student exited the vehicle, the seven-year-old girl was taken into nearby bushes where she was fondled.

It is further alleged that after the incident, the taxi operator took the child to a nearby post office.

THE STAR understands that residents who saw the child walking on the road and crying, took her home. The matter was reported to the police.

When THE STAR made contact with the St Elizabeth police, the incident was confirmed by an officer who told us that the man is in custody and that matter is still being investigated.

According to a reliable source, the child's family, "Is traumatised right now. I don't know if dem start send her back to school yet because she is to get some counselling, but di people dem inna di area disgust but he is not from this parish, a Clarendon mi hear seh dat him come from."

The source further reasoned, "A police mi hear pick him up Friday, because people from the area did a look for him because di people dem disgust."