Trafficking-club owner granted bail

Former proprietor of the Latin Movement Nightclub at Dunrobin Plaza, St Andrew, Hermalinda Parker - who is charged with trafficking in persons - has been granted bail in the sum of $3 million with sureties.

Supreme Court judge Donald McIntosh granted Parker bail on Friday following a bail application made by defence lawyer Christopher Townsend.

McIntosh ordered Parker to report to the Constant Spring Police Station every other day.

She is charged jointly with her husband, Anthony Parker, and her daughter, Lynn Scantlebury.

The other two accused are on bail and are to return to the Home Circuit Court on November 12 when their trial will commence.

Parker was held on September 1 last year shortly after she returned from The Bahamas.

It is alleged that after the police received a report in September last year, a sting operation was carried out at the club and a number of people were arrested.

The Crown is alleging that young girls were recruited from abroad and forced to work at the club.

It is further alleged that in one case, a 16-year-old was recruited from Guyana under the guise that she was spending her summer vacation in Jamaica.

She was forced to work at the club - dancing and engaging in sexual acts - after Parker allegedly told her that she had to work to pay for her living expenses and plane ticket.

Two women saw the girl looking very distraught and took her to a police station where a report was made.

The report resulted in the sting operation being set up at the club.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com