Back in March of 2010, it made the news when the former cashier for Insurance Corporation of Belize, Abisai Canul, was criminally charged with 2 counts of theft for over 10 thousand dollars.
According to police, the financial controller for ICB reported that Canul was terminated in January of 2010, and he was ordered to turn in all company funds, but they discovered that $10,220 dollars was missing.
Canul was implicated as the one who stole the money, and as a result, he was charged with theft.
Well, last week, which made it 2 years and 4 months since those charges were brought against him, he was acquitted when ICB brought several witnesses, but none of them could provide anything which pointed to Canul as the culprit.
Today, Canul received his official letter from the Magistrate's Court which certified that he cleared of all charges. However, He told 7News today that the damage to his character cannot be undone, and as a result, he will bring a defamation lawsuit against ICB for the 2 years of distress that the accusation caused him.
Here's what he told us about the case and about his intentions to sue.
Abisai Canul - Claims ICB Defamed Him
"I want to to get my message out there because I really want to clear my name that I was accused by ICB for theft, when I have all papers here that indicate that that I didn't steal any money, and I want to clear my name. They say that I stole 10,720 dollars from the ICB cash pan."
Daniel Ortiz
"Do you have any idea how this money was missing, and how exactly they connected your name to this?"
Abisai Canul
"I have no idea of how this money went missing."
Daniel Ortiz
"Tell us about what it's been like since you were criminally charged with theft."
Abisai Canul
"It has been very bad for me. I had no job; I couldn't get any job anywhere. I applied and I couldn't anything. I had to pay rent and other bills. I had to go fishing to make a living, and I have a bachelor's degree in business administration. To me, it's not fair that I couldn't find any job, and up to now, I still can't find one because of ICB accusing me of theft. I did not steal that money from them. The case actually came to a close because ICB provided like 7 witnesses who couldn't indicate that I stole the money. It was 2 cashiers working at ICB. So, how could they say that it was me and not the other one who could have possibly stolen the money? I was terminated because of misbehavior and misconduct. After I was terminated, the money went missing. It was not me who dealt with that matter. I will counter-sue them, and I will make them pay my legal fees and pay me back my 2 years seven months that I have not been working with any company."
Daniel Ortiz
"And Do you realize this trial in which you are going to sue them for defamation could take years?"
Abisai Canul
"I know. It will take - I was told by my lawyer - like 3 or 4 years, but I don't mind. I will clear my name today, and don't mind waiting 3, 4 or 5 years. I don't even need them to give me back my money, but just want to - likewise how they did to me, I will do back to them."
Today we contacted the ICB headquarters via phone, and we were transferred to the Human Resource Manager.
She then transferred us to the financial controller, who was the person who made the report to police in the first place.
The financial controller refused to comment, saying that we needed to direct our questions to the management of the company.
While asking to be transferred to the management, the financial controller hung up the phone without allowing us to finish.
Email
Print