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On Tuesday night’s newscast you heard the father and aunt of murder victim Chris Galvez complaining bitterly about the conduct of the police investigation into the death of their loved one. Specifically, they claimed that the young man who picked up Galvez and took him to the place where he was executive, Andre Aguilar was released prematurely; they also claim that the first police officer who just happened upon the scene has been harassing and threatening the family at their residence. The police high command basically brushed off those allegations.

And fine that they did because their complaint has been heard at the highest level. Today we received a most unusual release which says that the Ministry of National Security will take a most unusual step and appoint an internal inquiry team to investigate the complaints.

And it’s not an internal affairs team – the three persons group will be staffed by senior personnel from the Ministry of National Security. The release says the inquiry team is being lead by the Deputy National Security Coordinator Mr. Oliver Del Cid and comprises the Ministry’s Administrative Officer Mrs. Jennifer Saldivar Ramirez and the Police Liaison Officer Assistant Superintendent of Police Mr. Marlon Allen who is on secondment to The Ministry of National Security.

They have been charged to Investigate the allegations of unprofessional conduct made against personnel of the Belize Police Department in their handling of the Investigation; Investigate whether any external interference occurred resulting in the release of the detainee Andre Aguilar; Investigate whether any procedures/Laws were breached by his release and to investigate the allegations of threat made against the Galvez family by a Police Officer.

At the conclusion of the inquiry the report will be submitted to the Minister. We’ll keep a close eye on it. André Aguilar is believed to have left for the United States immediately after he was released form police custody.