Joel Andem

CAPTURED gang leader Joel Andem was yesterday slapped with 27 criminal charges, including two for murder.
The notorious gangster was also charged with:

. conspiracy to murder;

. 10 counts of shooting with intent;

. 12 counts of illegal possession of firearm;

. robbery with aggravation; and

. kidnapping.

The police did not give details of the offences against the man who was on top of their most wanted list for four years.
However, the 2000 kidnapping and murder of gas station operator Sylvia Edwards, who was shot dead and buried in shallow grave after family members failed to pay a $200,000 ransom, is expected to be among the charges.

Andem, 40, who led the feared Joel Andem gang, was held in Clarksonville, St Ann, last week Wednesday during an operation by the Special Anti-Crime Task Force, an elite squad in the constabulary, and the Military Intelligence Unit of the Jamaica Defence Force.

He was flown to the JDF headquarters by helicopter and then taken to the Horizon Remand Centre.

No date has yet been set for Andem's court appearance as investigators said more charges were expected to be laid against the man who has eluded them for four years.

Meanwhile, Kenneth Watson, 72, and Denisha Griffiths, 21, who were at the six-bedroom house where Andem was held, were yesterday charged with harbouring a criminal.

The notorious Andem gang, which the police said was involved in extortion, robbery, gun-runnings and contract killings, was up to 2002 said to be responsible for more than 20 murders.

The murder of Sylvia Edwards' brother-in-law, Robert Edwards, who was shot dead along Hagley Park Road in 2001; District Constable James Thomas, shot dead in Kintyre and his body thrown in the Hope River; and People's National Party activist Pearl Brascoe, who was dubbed a police informer, were among the killings the police linked to the Andem gang.

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