P.U.P. Standard Bearer Arraigned for ‘Failure to Provide a Specimen’
A politician was hauled before the courts today where he was read a single charge of failure to provide a specimen. P.U.P.’s standard bearer for Belmopan, Oscar Mira was arraigned following an accident on Friday night. But is it that cops are being stringent with the law or are they being used to target the politician? The latter is what Mira believes. He says this is all a political ploy that he believes is being orchestrated by his opponent, who happens to be the former Minister of National Security, John Saldivar. Here’s the story:
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
Belmopan P.U.P. Standard Bearer Oscar Mira and a small group of supporters gathered outside of the Belmopan Police Station this morning. Around eight-thirty this morning Mira and his attorney Anthony Sylvester walked into the police station where Mira was charged for failing to provide a specimen, following a road traffic accident on Sunday night on the George Price Highway. Mira feels that the charge is being used as a political smear tactic.
Oscar Mira
Oscar Mira, Charged with Failure to Provide Specimen
“I think that this charge on my person is to tarnish my image and my person here in Belmopan. I don’t believe that there is any merit. It is going to court. I will be charged. I haven’t been charged as yet and we will defend it vigorously.”
Reporter
“How does this stand to affect your political endeavors? For a man that virtually has a clean slate, a clean record, you are now among the fallen angels, per se?”
Oscar Mira
“Not at all, sir. I think that they are trying. My opponent is trying and unfortunately he is using the police department. That is unfortunate to try and tarnish my image in Belmopan. But those that I work with everyday and those that I serve know that is not Oscar Mira.”
The accident happened around mile forty-five on the George Price Highway around mile forty-five on Friday night. Mira says that he was driving to Belmopan when he collided into the back of a vehicle parked in the middle of the highway. Mira also alleges that the driver, a police officer, was asleep inside the vehicle at the time of the accident. In an interview on Tuesday, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams gave a different account. ComPol Williams told the press that the vehicle was parked on the side of the road.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police [File: June 30th, 2020]
“In respect to the matter in Belmopan with a police officer who was in a vehicle parked by the road side and that vehicle was subsequently ran into by a vehicle driven by Oscar Mira. That matter is currently being investigated by the police. You would know that the police officer who was in the vehicle sustained severe head injuries and is still in the hospital. While Mr. Mira is saying that the vehicle was parked on the road and he may not have seen it before colliding into it, from a legal perspective that is tantamount to driving without due care and attention because if you are paying attention while driving you should be able to see an obstacle in front of you.”
Oscar Mira
“I think that the Commissioner of Police should have done a little bit more of an investigation. He should have looked at the pictures that the scenes of crime took. It clearly shows that this vehicle was parked on the middle of the road. I don’t know where he got the information but last night I was showed a picture of a passer-by who took a picture of the scene and it clearly shows it was no more than a feet or two from the center line of the highway. Also, I was called by a motorist who was some minutes ahead of me and said listen I went to the Belmopan Police Station to give a report because I almost slammed into that vehicle; had it not been for an oncoming vehicle who flashed his light I wouldn’t have seen it and I came to give the report and said that vehicle was parked in the middle of the road and there was someone sleeping inside.”
Mira sums it up as a witch-hunt; a political ploy orchestrated by his opponent. He says he was not under the influence of alcohol that night – that’s not a reason why he didn’t comply to give a urine or blood sample.
Oscar Mira
“I hope that the same vigorous way that they investigated me and brought charges that it is done across the board. I think you know of many cases where accidents have happened and there have been fatalities and up to now there hasn’t been a charge against anyone.”
Reporter
“You failed to provide specimen because you were under the influence – some can argue that?”
Oscar Mira
“No. No. I think that, and this will be revealed in court. There are specific instances where you should ask for a specimen. But I can categorically say that I wasn’t drinking. I wasn’t drunk. The evidence will be presented in court and I am very sure that I will be exonerated on these charges.”
Mira was processed and charged at the police station and about ten thirty He was escorted over to the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court – where his supporters followed along. He was arraigned on a single charge of failure to provide a specimen. The matter was adjourned for September third for disclosure. Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.
