Punishment May Not Fit the Crime

Leroy Banner

The next step will be mitigation pleas followed by sentencing. But here’s the thing. Under the NICH Act, Grijalva could face fines of up to ten thousand dollars. Banner says is really nothing considering the damage that was done and considering the fact that Grijalva likely made many times that amount from the contract to fix the roads using material from Noh Mul.

Leroy Banner, Representing D.P.P.’s Office

“The fine is minimal. It’s like a slap on the wrist. The company used Noh Mul to build roads, so they profited from that. So to be fined just ten thousand dollars to me doesn’t add up. The law needs to change for there to be a stiffer penalty. This was one of the hardest cases I ever prosecuted while at the D.P.P.’s Office. First of all the accused were not just ordinary businessmen. They were people that were very influential in the Orange Walk District. So getting witnesses to testify, especially Police witnesses was challenging. One of the main witnesses, the arresting officer, refused to cooperate with the prosecution. Then there were statements that were missing, caution statements that were recorded and could not be located so there were a lot of challenges on the Police’s part that they were unable or unwilling to fully support the Crown in this case.”