The makeshift zinc hut in which a man and a 12-year-old girl, who was allegedly swapped by her parents for a piece of land, reportedly lived, in Rockland, St. Elizabeth. - Photo by Noel Thompson

Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Vivienne Campbell, the mother of the 12-year-old girl whom authorities allege was swapped for a piece of land, is a happier woman today.

Campbell, 38, walked from the Santa Cruz police lock-up last Thursday when a good Samaritan signed her $60,000 bail bond to allow her to reunite with society, pending the outcome of her case.

The accused mother had not been able to take up her bail offer since it was offered to her in the Malvern Resident Magistrate's Court approximately one month ago due to her economic constraints.

Campbell and her common-law husband, Clarence Wanliss, 43, both of Rock-land district, St. Elizabeth, appeared in the Santa Cruz RM Court on Monday when presiding Magistrate Simone Maddix extended their bails. Wanliss is out on bail.

Joint charge

They are jointly charged with exposing a child to immoral behaviour and aiding and abetting a 30-year-old man to sexually molest their 12-year-old daughter over a period. The child was forced to live with the man in a makeshift zinc hut in close proximity to her parents.

Following their arrests, the Child Development Agency (CDA) commenced a probe into the welfare of the couple's five other children, who were found to be in need of care and protection. They were being cared for by the paternal grandmother for some time but, over a week ago, the CDA took the children into state custody.

The accused parents are scheduled to reappear in the Santa Cruz resident Magistrate's Court on April 23. They have, up to now, maintained their innocence in relation to the crime.