UPDATE: Former Moravian president, VP granted bail

Jamaica Observer
January 23, 2017

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/UPDATE--Former-Moravian-president--VP-granted-bail

Rev Dr Paul Gardner

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Former Moravian President Paul Gardner and his deputy Jermaine Gibson who were both arrested and charged with carnal abuse and indecent assault have been granted bail.

The men’s attorney Lambert Johnson confirmed the release moments ago.

After news of their charges became public earlier today, Johnson told OBSERVER ONLINE that his clients said the accusations are being done “out of sheer malice, with the intention of destroying their good name.”

The attorney said that the men’s arrest is “based on vile, malicious and tenuous allegations” adding that based on allegations “the available evidence is riddled with inconsistencies and is bereft of credibility, cogency or corroboration."

“[Our] clients are steadfast in their declarations of innocence and having regard to the circumstances we have been instructed to file suit for defamation, malicious prosecution and false imprisonment,” the attorney’s law firm said in a statement Monday.

Gardner resigned as Moravian Church president in the wake of allegations against a St Elizabeth preacher who was reportedly found by the police in “a compromising position” with a 15-year-old girl.