Belizean doctor extradited to U.S. without trial
While today’s press conference was called primarily to announce the break in the Jackie Malic murder case, Commissioner Brooks was also grilled by the press on other subjects. One was an allegation that two of Brooks’ most aggressive investigators, Simeon Alvarez and Eli Salazar, on Thursday afternoon detained a naturalized Belizean, Dr. William Willitts and forcibly put him on the TACA flight to Miami at the request of the U.S. government. His attorney, Fred Lumor claims that his client was in fact kidnapped with the blessing of Belizean authorities.
Fred Lumor, Attorney for William Willitts
“At about 12:15 I was informed that he was kidnapped on Daly Street by Head of C.I.B. and Inspector Salazar. Nobody could tell us at any of the police stations where they were holding him. I called Mr. Ghandi who said that this man is not on the list of deportees.”
Q: “And he is a Belizean citizen?”
Fred Lumor
“Yes, he is a Belizean citizen. So I informed Mr. Ghandi and gave the passport number to him. He promised to investigate the matter promptly. That is where our troubles began. We had no choice but to go quickly before the acting Chief Justice and he granted an injunction restraining the police from removing Dr. Willitts? from the country. When the police knew of the injunction they quickly changed their plans from deporting him on American Airlines to TACA and took him out of the country.”
Q: “Fred, what is the message then to someone who holds a Belize passport, whether they have attained it by naturalization or whether they have attained it through birth? Does it mean that any Belize citizen can, as you say, be kidnapped from his or her own country and sent to another country under force?”
Fred Lumor
“That is the message and if you know or have any information that you are wanted by U.S. authorities don’t put yourself in the situation where the police can secretly kidnap you and unknown to anybody take you out on the next available flight.”
Q: “You are a long standing legal practitioner here in Belize; your partner is none other than the Prime Minister. Is it somewhat embarrassing for you to handle a case like this?”
Fred Lumor
“I think that it is embarrassing because I know the Prime Minister personally. I can tell you that if you know the Prime Minister he will be outraged by this.”
Q: “So you expect that something will be done?”
Fred Lumor
“I expect that something will be done. And as I told you Said knows my obligation is to my client and all that we’re trying to do is pursue the legal process and get to the bottom of this frightening development.”
