By Glenroy Sinclair and Devon Evans, Staff Reporter/Gleaner Writer
Andem
JOEL ANDEM, Jamaica's most wanted man for the past four years, was nabbed yesterday morning during a joint police/military operation in Clarksonville, St. Ann.
It was an anti-climactic ending to the search for the country's most wanted fugitive, who surrendered after being cornered by the lawmen. The 40-year-old Andem was touted by police to be a very dangerous individual often armed with an AK-47 rifle and a 9-mm pistol. In fact, based on his supposed modus operandi over the past eight weeks, the police had upgraded his status from that of a fugitive to terrorist. This was confirmed yesterday by Deputy Commissioner Lucius Thomas.
Immediately after he was arrested, the fugitive was quickly taken away from his home to the Aboukir Educational Institute where he was placed in a waiting Jamaica Defence Force helicopter and whisked off to Kingston.
An elderly man, said to be his father, a two-year-old boy and a Kingston-based woman, also believed to be related to the fugitive, were taken into custody.
CELLULAR PHONES SEIZED
Reports are that several cellular phones were seized during the operation at a posh six-bedroom house, and are now being processed. According to Senior Superintendent Donald Pusey who led the successful operation, Andem, who was taken by surprise, did not attempt to escape.
In the meantime, the capture of Andem has left the quiet farming district of Clarksonville, gripped with fear with most residents refusing to comment on the incident. They maintain that they had nothing to do with Andem's arrest, and did not want to risk their lives by commenting on the matter. A few, however, expressed solidarity with the fugitive's 80-year-old father who along with Andem's girlfriend and their two-year-old child were taken from the house.
Despite the stony silence members of the media experienced, Andem's house, however, did generate some amount of speculation and interest among residents. The beautifully constructed house has a total of six bedrooms, two bathrooms, along with a spacious living room and kitchen. All four bedrooms on the upper floor were furnished including the master bedroom which had a dresser, a four-poster bed and a beautiful chandelier hanging from the roof. It was reportedly completed only a few months ago.
EIGHT MURDERS
Up to late yesterday evening, senior detectives at the CIB headquarters, downtown King-ston, had linked Andem to at least eight murders, including that of gas station operator, Sylvia Edwards, who was abducted and killed 2,000.
National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips congratulated the Special Anti-Crime Task Force, the leadership of SSP Pusey and the other elements of the security forces who were involved.
"The next phase of activity will be aimed at key figures of organised crime and men of violence who prey on vulnerable communities," Dr. Phillips said.
Meanwhile, Ernest Smith, Member of Parliament for St. Ann south west, is praising the work of the police in capturing Andem in the constituency.
Mr. Smith said that he was "not going to allow the constituency to become a haven for any gunman or gunmen," and that he hoped the criminals will take heed.
FORBES SATISFIED
Police Commissioner Francis Forbes who returned to the island yesterday afternoon from the Association of Caribbean Com-missioners of Police (ACCP) in Trinidad, was "exceedingly satisfied", said Deputy Commissioner Lucius Thomas.
Speaking with journalists at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday, the Commis-
sioner praised the JDF for its assistance in apprehending Andem. "He was operating like an urban-type guerrilla," said Mr. Forbes who had invited the army to assist with intelligence to capture Andem.
The Gleaner understands that the joint police/military team departed Kingston about 12:30 a.m. yesterday. Four hours later, they were struggling through the thick fog and rough terrain, searching for the house, said to be owned by Andem.
"We knocked at the door and he came out. He looked the same but seemed to now weigh more than 200 pounds," said SSP Pusey, who is fast developing a reputation in the public's eye as a hard-nosed, intelligent and competent crime-fighter.
Last year in Canterbury in St. James, SSP Pusey led a major operation, recovering over eight illegal guns, following a gun battle with gunmen in the area. He was highly commended for the manner in which he handled the situation.
History of Jamaica's most wanted man
JOEL ANDEM, the last of seven children for Enid Haughton and Kenneth Andem, came to prominence after the brutal murder of gas station operator Sylvia Edwards, who was abducted and killed in July 2000.
Prior to that he was convicted for the first time in June 1983 for larceny and breaking. In 1990 he was again convicted on two counts of illegal possession of firearm and wounding.
A former student of Rollington Town Primary and Vauxhall Secondary schools in east Kingston, Andem spent most of his youthful years in eastern Kingston, between Rollington Town, McGregor Gully and Windward Road.
In an exclusive interview with his sister, Lorna Andem, two years ago, she told The Gleaner that: "We grew up very good, when we were small, if our mother catch us playing or keeping company, she would beat us."
NEVER USED TO STEAL
"I believe Joel broke out when him used to attend Vauxhall. Him never used to steal, him just hang out with the wrong crowd. He never spoke to strangers."
At the time, Miss Andem said her brother was a carpenter by trade, she said he was no dunce. In fact, she thinks that based on his academic achievements, he could be described as brilliant.
"He has about three (CXC) subjects, including mathematics," said Lorna. "He was very good at maths," she said.
Reflecting on the earlier life of her brother, Lorna remembered Joel as a very quiet lad while he was attending Rollington Town Primary and Vauxhall Secondary schools.
She said: "Joel is the last child for my mother. Two of my brothers were killed by the gun. The first child, Jimmy Andem, was controversially killed by the police. The second, Sam, was robbed and killed by gunmen along Camperdown Road. This happened more than 12 years ago."
