A policeman’s career in law enforcement is in big trouble tonight
after he is charged with extorting one hundred dollars from a well known Belize
City businessman. Initial reports are that sometime on Sunday the owner of New
Horizons Apartment Complex Ayte Klin Kelat was driving on the Western Highway
and stopped at the police checkpoint by mile four. Following an inspection of
the businessman’s vehicle it was discovered that the insurance had expired.
Kelat was issued a summons to appear in court on Thursday of this week
but today one of the police officers identified as thirty seven year old Police
Constable Marlon Harris who was on duty at the checkpoint was arrested and charged
with extortion. And that’s because around two thirty this afternoon PC
Harris visited the businessman at his residence and told Kelat that the matter
would not go to court but that he would need to be paid one hundred dollars.
ASP Julio Valdez,
“Some time today the police approached him and informed him that if
he does not wish to appear in court that he can pay him $100. The person Mr.
Kelat eventually decided to pay him the $100 but prior to doing so he put down
the serial number of the money and paid him the $100. As soon as the police
was coming out, other police officers were there waiting for him, who were already
tipped off that this person was there collecting some money from Kelat and he
was detained and searched and on searching him, the said $100 was found on him.
He was detained and eventually transported here to the CIB pending charges.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
What is he saying anything in his defense?
ASP Julio Valdez,
“No at this time he is not saying anything. We will not tolerate wrongdoings,
extortions and these kind of incidents and as soon as we do get these reports
about police officers, we will deal with these type of incidents involving police
officers. So this police officer will be charged for extortion.”
Valdez reported the hundred dollars was found in PC Harris’ possession.
On Tuesday he is scheduled to appear in Belize City Magistrate’s Court
where he will be formally arraigned on the charge of extortion.
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