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Last week we told you about a trio of South Americans who used a special device to drain people’s accounts at ATM machines.  

But, long before them, in early 2018, three Mexicans were charged in a smiliar type of scam.  

But, the 3 Mexicans are free of theft charges tonight after Corozal Magistrate Lionel Olivera dismissed the charges yesterday. 

The Mexican nationals are Belen Hernandez, Joscat Jafet Hernandez and Lionel Isaac Rodriguez. This decision comes almost exactly one year after they were initially charged for allegedly stealing a significant amount of money from Atlantic Bank. 

Attorney Leslie Hamilton, who represented the trio, had entered a no case submission last Tuesday, challenging the prosecution’s case. Hamilton cited that no evidence that linked the defendants to the offense of theft was presented by any of the witnesses who appeared for the prosecution and that there was no evidence that the items which were found on the three accused in January 2018, including international cards and thousands of dollars in pesos, belonged to Atlantic Bank. Magistrate Olivera upheld the no case submission in court today and dismissed the case that was before the Corozal Court against the Mexican nationals. This is the second time charges are dismissed against the three Mexican nationals, since previous charges were also dismissed in April 2018 after the prosecution failed to provide disclosure within the required time. While the three are celebrating victory in Corozal, their troubles are not over just yet as they continue to face similar charges in Orange Walk and Belize City for which they remain on remand and will face trial.