Email

Print

High profile businessman Jose Shoman and his family were the targets of a murder plot that police foiled this weekend. Information is that 2 former employees along with 4 Guatemalans planned to storm Shoman’s house at mile 2 and a half on the Western Highway and steal whatever they could and kill whoever they had to. The plot was foiled but just the mere attempt - made Shoman do something he has never done – speak to the media on camera behind the walled gates of his home. He called the press to a conference this afternoon at his house and 7NEWS was there.

Jose Shoman, Target of Murder Plot
“They would have gained entry by force, try to have everyone tied up and then robbed for what they can and then after that then wouldn’t leave any witnesses; they would have started with my children, my wife, and the rest of the family. This isn’t something to be taken lightly. It was myself, my wife, my three kids, and my two sisters.”

But the plot was foiled after Shoman received a tip on Friday night. He in turn called police.

Supt. Julio Valdez, CIB
“Information was that as you mentioned the home invasion of Mr. Shoman. These persons were apparently planning to do a home invasion of Mr. Shoman to commit a robbery. Part of that plan was that they would commit a robbery, steal some valuables, and the plan was also to in the event that no valuables were found there, their intention was to kill a member of the family to let them see that they are serious and that was the information we had. And as a result of that, we visited that residence where we found the firearm, the ammunition, the blue ski mask, and the large military knife.”

Marion Ali, News 5
“They would have killed one of the Shomans or all of the Shomans?”

Supt. Julio Valdez,
“The plan was to kill one.”

Two of Jose Shoman’s employees are key figures in the attempt.

Jose Shoman,
“When he was under my employment he was doing construction. His name was Francisco Martinez, that is how I knew him. I was made to understand he is using another name now, an alias, Aldo Urbina. He has a nickname, “Pancho.” I’ve been made to understand he is one of the masterminds behind it.

In regard to the Guatemalans, I don’t know who they are or how they came about to get into this situation. The other employee, former employee, I haven’t seen him charged yet but he is still in police custody. He is Cesar Ramirez. The reason I fired one of the employees in particular is because he stole four tires from, each tire was valued at eight hundred and odd dollars. That was Cesar. I found it at his house actually. I was looking for my tires and he didn’t show up to work and so I went to look for him and I found the tires at his step.

The people that are behind it are former employees, people we trusted. I want to caution everyone in Belize, because in someway or another, all of us have employees that we trust and this has been with me for my years, one of them, and I trusted him and he is one of the masterminds so we cannot let our guard down. I would like to caution everyone to be very careful.”

Jules Vasquez,
Have these persons’ names emerged in any other major crime conspiracies or allegations of criminal involvement?

Supt. Julio Valdez,
“Not to my knowledge.”

Jose Shoman,
“If it was just Jose without a family, I wouldn’t give two hoots about it but it is my family and my wife and my children. I am stepping up my personal security; we’re going to be more vigilant of whose coming and going, screen workers before employment, perhaps I will have a 24 hour, which I will have 24 hour armed security at my house. My children right now don’t even want to come out to play. My wife is very distraught over it.”

But what’s worrying now for police is that this may be the tip of the iceberg.

Jose Shoman,
“My case is disgruntled workers that have been around and I believe they feel that I have valuables, I have money, which I don’t keep in my home, and they probably felt that this is a good place to come and hit. So beware everyone that is out there because if you work there and have a nice home, perhaps you might be the next target for your hard work.

I’ve been made to understand that there are a list of prominent business people and homes that were going to be hit after this. I’ve been made to understand that after, had this been successful they would have gone back and come back and we would have heard of something similar happening again.”

Supt. Julio Valdez,
“That is the information we received that yes, if they were successful, their plan was to visit another residence, if this home invasion was successful.”

Marion Ali,
“In other words if they did not get the tip that they got, your intelligence sources would have been a bit late in saving their lives?”

Supt. Julio Valdez,
“I wouldn’t say. We believe it is happening but as we mentioned, we are conducting checkpoints, we are stopping vehicles, and we must search on reasonable suspicion and that is why we have authority to search. We must have reasonable suspicion to search.”

Marion Ali,
“Are you aware that there is a list that they actually go around studying people’s homes, they apply for jobs under the guise that they are gardeners and they are cooks?”

Supt. Julio Valdez,
“It could be possible.”

The men charged are of course the former employee Aldo Miguel Urbina along with Honduran nationals Miguel Mayorga, and Guatemalans Jose Ismael Cardova, Carlos Juarez and Eswin Rosales. They were all charged for possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. The charges are as a result of a search at a home on Gill Street where police found a .38 revolver, 6 .38 live rounds, one .22 pistol with 23 live rounds, a blue mask, and an army knife. Along with beefing up his personal security, police have increased patrols in the area.