A Haitian woman has been granted bail on humanitarian grounds in the St. Catherine Parish Court after it was revealed on Friday that her infant daughter had suffered injuries while in the care of the State.
Fabienne Cherisma and her daughter were among a group of Haitian nationals arrested at a house in Green Acres, St Catherine, and charged with overstaying.
According to The Gleaner, Ms. Cherisma screamed upon seeing her one-year-old child, while the father, who is also a defendant, collapsed in the dock.
The apparent injuries on the face of the child did not escape the concern of presiding judge Roneiph Lawrence.
The infant appeared in court in the care of a Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) officer.
It was observed that she had black-and-blue bruise marks under her eyes and what appeared to be burn marks on her chin and cheek.
It was revealed in court that a medical report stated that the injuries were non-accidental.
Following inquiries by the judge, the court was told that, upon retrieving the child for the hearing, it was said that the injuries were sustained while in her crib and that an investigation was under way.
Attorney-at-law Denise Hinson, who represented the mother of the child, expressed alarm at the situation, and asserted that it was unlikely that the baby had injured herself in her crib.
Ms. Hinson subsequently applied for bail, arguing that the child was in danger and required her mother’s care.
The application was initially objected to by the prosecution, which argued that the accused needed to apply for an extension.
But the defence attorney outlined that her client had erroneously married a man of Haitian descent whom she believed was a Jamaican citizen.
The union produced a child in July 2025.
After hearing submissions, the judge granted the woman $150,000 bail, based on humanitarian grounds.
She was also ordered to report to the Green Acres Police Station three times weekly and the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency once weekly.
A nightly curfew was also imposed.
The matter will again be mentioned on October 20.