And while everything looks to be on the up and up - with the cops laying down the hardline and all - you might be saying to yourself, but haven't we seen this movie before? We kinda have - back in April of 2017 - when two police officers were seen abusing a woman and menacing residents with loaded weapons and live rounds.
At the time, police suspended them, brought criminal charges…the whole nine, but the case fell through and those cops are back on active duty like nothing ever happened.
Today, Acting Commissioner Williams bristled and snapped when the press brought up this and other failed prosecutions against lawmen:..
Reporter
"Could you assure us that this particular incident will be fully investigated and not cover up?"
Chester Williams, Acting ComPol
"I think I have made that categorically clear."
Reporter
"Because we had the B-SAG 8 case which fell through."
Chester Williams, Acting ComPol
"That did not fell through. Let us not distort or give misleading information. The matter is still with the director of public prosecution and they have said that they will review the file and they will see who will be charged or who will be rearrested from that matter. So let us not give wrong information. As the media you have a responsibility to report accurately, please."
Reporter
"And how about the San Pedro one?"
Chester Williams, Acting ComPol
"Which San Pedro one? the one at the park?"
Reporter
"Yeah."
Chester Williams, Acting ComPol
"The persons concern refused to go to court and testify against the officers. That we have no control over. The testimony of the person who were affected by the officers was still be required within the police tribunal. So they will also be charged disciplinary. But that fell thru. Due to the fact that the complainants refused to cooperate further. So it is not a matter of cover up. So let us get the notion out of the way."
The victim, Jamir Leal has told the San Pedro Sun that he will press charges against police and the bar owner who also stomped on him.
The PUP today issued a statement saying, quote, "There are far too many instances where officers have walked outside the law with impunity, and far too many instances where officers acting like criminals have been protected by the department. Enough is enough! We demand that the officers caught on camera be removed from duty and that criminal charges be levied on them." End quote.
The Human Rights Commission of Belize also issued a statement saying, quote,
"In this case, both criminal charges as well as civil suit against the police action as well as against the male in civilian attire who inflicts his own assault on the detained individuals, must be explored."
Email
Print