Kareem 'QQ' Dawkins - file

Dancehall child star Kareem 'QQ' Dawkins, 13, is now in the care and protection of the State following complaints that he was facing emotional abuse and threats from a close relative.

A Family Court Judge gave directives yesterday for a probation officer to take the child away from his home and place him in a private home.

The issue will again be before the court today and a judge will decide the fate of the child. Probation officers have collected reports and have submitted them to the court.

The parents of the artiste, who is known for such songs as Poverty, Stookie and Rum Ram, have beenbeforethe Family Court for sometime waiting for the final verdict as they have each being seeking custody of their son.

Yesterday, however, a source close to QQ's father told THE STAR, "Dem (the court) tek him wey an put him in a home and dem nuh disclose where he's being kept."

The source added; "The driver went to pick him up at school and saw one of them (court personnel) there and they told him that he would not be able to get QQ. Then a representative from ... called and said that they have QQ and it was ordered by the judge."

It is said that the judge was in the middle of reading her verdict, granting custody to QQ's father when the child's mother presented a letter that was said to have been written by QQ. The letter suggested that the child had been verbally abused and so the judge withheld the verdict and requested to meet with QQ first.