And while the drugs were destroyed today - the Belizeans accused of trafficking all those kilos went to court for bail.
Last week Friday, Peter Friessen Jr., a tradesman from Blue Creek; Police Constable Norman Anthony; and Superintendent David Chi, a senior cop with 34 years of service in the Department were - along with two Mexicans - all arrested and charged for the September 9th illegal landing of the drug plane in Orange Walk along with two .
The Belizean three went to back to court today after a week in jail. They were seeking seeking bail from a Supreme Court judge, and 7News was there for hearing of their petitions. Daniel Ortiz reports.
After spending 6 days on remand at the prison, Senior Superintendent David Chi, Constable Norman Anthony, and Blue Creek Resident Peter Friessen Jr. were all taken back to the court house today in Belize City. The 3 defendants were there to apply for Supreme Court bail, and taking no chances, the Gang Suppression Unit was activated as their escorts.
The men climbed the steps heading to the courtroom where bail applications are normally heard, but they quickly realized that they were in the wrong location.
They then moved over to the correct building, and presented themselves before Justice Francis Cumberbatch.
Once in front of the judge, their attorneys, “Dickie” Bradley and Leeroy Banner, presented their petitions to the judge.
Senior Crown Counsel Sheneiza Smith had no objections to all 3 Belizeans being admitted to bail, but since these men are all accused of facilitating the landing of a cocaine cargo worth 7 million US dollars, Smith insisted to the judge that the bail amount should be no less than $150,000 each.
For most Belizeans, that bail amount would not be affordable, but after the hearing, their attorney said, that at the very least, all 3 accused can get back their freedom.
Richard “Dickie” Bradley - Attorney for Friessen and Chi
"The system works. The judiciary stood up for the liberty of persons who are alleged to have committed very very serious offenses. The law in Belize, as in any mature democracy, is that bail is a right. Bail is not privilege. In the case of Senior Superintendent of Police who was in charge of the Orange Walk Police Formation, he was offered bail in the sum of a $150,000, which is a very very high sum, but the judge took into consideration that landing a plane being involved in the matter of 7 million US dollars’ worth of cocaine, which is another word for 'demon', is one that requires the community to take into account that the judiciary takes a very serious view of the matter. He even opined that in the event any of the persons involved were to be convicted, that at the Supreme Court level, which is where this matter will be tried, a judge will take into account the quantum of bail and the circumstances involved. So, there are two very important principles bear in mind. Your liberty is very important, no matter what is the allegation against you."
The only thing left now is for all 3 men to try and meet that heft 150 thousand-dollar sum for their bail. If not, they will have to go back to prison on remand.
Richard "Dickie" Bradley
"Peter Friessen, who although he has the name of a Mennonite, is in fact a born Belizean, and is a carpenter and interior decorator. He does finishing work. He and his family will be hard-pressed to locate that kind of amount in terms of a land title, or as you heard me say of the judge, we may have to combine land titles to reach that quantum. My focus was only on looking at all the factors. We came prepared for the possibility that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions would be offering objections with the usual arguments. The investigation is ongoing. They will interfere with witnesses. They will try and leave the jurisdiction. Those are arguments that are normally used to keep people in prison. I want to say that I am proud of the senior crown counsel who did not offered any objections. She just wanted to make sure that the conditions and the terms were satisfactory, given the circumstances of what has happened. So, as to the ability of a police officer to raise a $150,000 by way of land paper, I wasn't focusing on that. I was just focusing on getting his bail."
As you heard, each of the 3 accused men have been granted bail of $150,000. They are all ordered to surrender their travel documents, stay away from the prosecution’s witnesses, and they must report to a police station near their homes twice a week, until these charges are disposed of.
If they violate any of these conditions, or if they are charged with any additional, unrelated offense, they are at risk of the bail being revoked. Court sources tell us that up to a few minutes before 5:00 this evening, only Anthony was able to meet bail. Late reports say that Chi and Friessen Jr. met bail at 5:45 p.m.
They must all show up for the adjournment in their case on November 1st.
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