Member of Parliament for North Central St. Catherine Natalie Neita has been charged with common assault.

Her legal team at Kinghorn and Kinghorn confirmed the charge, saying it intends to vigorously defend their client, when the matter comes up before the court.

In a statement this afternoon (Jan 15) the legal team for Ms. Neita and the Petroleum Company of Jamaica outlined the circumstances of an incident involving a former employee of the company.

According to the statement, Ms. Neita is a consultant in Human Resource Management for the Petroleum Company of Jamaica.

It is alleged that she was attacked on the company premises by the former employee concerning an employment issue.

The statement from attorney’ further claims that Ms. Neita was attacked when the former employee allegedly menacingly and threateningly advanced upon her in a violent fit of rage and referring to her in derogatory terms.

The attorney says Ms. Neita, in the face of that violent and threatening attack was constrained to defend herself as allowed by law.

Ms. Neita’s legal team says it refutes any allegation or contention that she wronged the complainant and intends to vigorously defend the charge of common assault when the matter comes up before the court.