JAMAICA Defence Force (JDF) has discharged one of its members believed to be heavily involved in a deadly gang conflict in the St Andrew South Police Division.

In a release on Monday JDF said it is assisting the police in an investigation involving a man, who is now an ex-service member, surrounding his alleged involvement in the gang feud.

“The ex-service member in question was formally discharged and detained by the JDF, before being handed over to the police, and has been formally charged,” JDF said without naming the ex-service member.

“While we cannot provide specific details at this time due to the ongoing police investigation, we want to assure the public that we are committed to transparency, accountability, the rule of law, and due process. We will continue to work closely with the JCF [Jamaica Constabulary Force] on this sensitive matter in order to ensure that justice is served and the integrity of the organisation is upheld,” said JDF.

Monday’s release came just over one week after JDF acknowledged that one of its members had been arrested by the police for questioning in connection with criminal activities.

At the time JDF noted that the soldier was being held by the police and said it was supporting JCF in its probe.

“The JDF is fully cooperating with the JCF in its investigation and remains committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and discipline among its members,” the army declared at what has been a particularly testing time for the organisation.

Last week news broke that a member of the JDF — implicated in a phishing scam that reportedly defrauded National Commercial Bank of $47 million — had been charged.

The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) identified that solider as 25-year-old Garrick Lewis who was charged on Friday, November 29, following his arrest days earlier.

He was charged with acquisition of criminal property, engaging in a transaction involving criminal property, facilitating the use of criminal property, and receiving stolen property.

An alleged accomplice, 33-year-old Romone Thompson, who was already in police custody for separate crimes, was similarly charged and returned to custody.

MOCA reported that between April and June 2022 Lewis, who is suspected of being part of a wider organised criminal syndicate, helped to illegally access funds from a number of NCB accounts through an online phishing scam.

It is further alleged that the stolen money was subsequently transferred to various beneficiary accounts, which have since been used to withdraw funds or further transfer them to other banking institutions.

Lewis’s arrest came days after another member of JDF was charged when a vehicle driven by him was searched at Cannonball Gate, the main entrance to JDF’s Up Park Camp headquarters in St Andrew, and several weapons and ammunition were found.

It was reported that a JDF-issued Burgan kit bag was taken from the vehicle and searched, revealing a black Browning 9mm pistol with a magazine containing one 9mm round; a black Smith and Wesson firearm containing a magazine with five 9mm cartridges; a black toy imitation pistol; two Glock magazines, one containing 24 9mm cartridges and the other 25 9mm cartridges; 17 5.56 blank rounds; and six 5.56 live rounds.

JDF said the search also uncovered a taser gun, a pair of binoculars, a laser flashlight with charger, two black infrared lasers with two attachments, a combat knife, a pistol holster, a handcuff with key, a rifle scope, pistol sight containing 10 Allen keys with screw, a pepper spray, a red dot optic sight (used on rifles), a pair of gloves, and six used plastic gloves.

He was detained and later charged with possession of prohibited weapons and unauthorised possession of ammunition.

That arrest came almost one month after a member of JDF, Chevin Buchanan, otherwise called Sojie, was among three people charged following the seizure of an illegal firearm and ammunition in St Elizabeth.

The others are Chavoy “Bag Juice” Williams, a sound system operator of Cambridge, St James; and Dwayne “Metro” Goulbourne, a sound system selector of Middle Quarters, St Elizabeth.

The men are charged with possession of prohibited weapon and unauthorised possession of ammunition.