7 News Belize

Swift and Stiff Penalties For Cops Who Extort
posted (August 26, 2020)
And this SI 122 also puts into law stiffer, swifter penalties for extortion by cops. Under the SI, any member of the security forces found to be extorting an individual under the guise of their office is liable to one year imprisonment Also, SI 122 makes it an offence to bribe or offer anything of value to a member of the security forces or any public officer to avoid prosecution.

These offences carry a minimum sentence of one year imprisonment.

We might want to call this one the Diego Doctrine, after all the COMPOL pushed for it become the law after an American man complained that a constable Reginald Diego shook him down for $300 because he drove up to the checkpoint without a mask.

The police officer was criminally charged for extortion yesterday, but under the old law, which is an indictable offence that has to be tried in the Supreme court, a long and winding process.

But, now, with this amended State of Emergency S.I. future complaints will be covered by the tough, new law.

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