What’s Penalty for B.D.F.

Micah Miguel

The Belize Police Department is also carrying out an investigation into the allegations of sexual assault of Micah Miguel. It is not the first time that allegations of crimes of a sexual nature have been made against the B.D.F. Brigadier General Loria was asked about how the military addresses these kinds of issues.

Brigadier General Azariel Loria

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander, B.D.F.

“We have been getting reports of sexual allegations. The investigation for this particular one is ongoing and if there are reports that indeed sexual assaults happen, we will get to know because we have the women’s commission now onboard and we will do something about it. I am concerned yes. We have done, I think two years ago, we had allegations of rape. I think one or two cases are still with the police. The police are investigating it and still they have not managed to reach a conclusion into that. We are still awaiting. We devised our protocols, our procedures on how we are going to address it. But the B.D.F. stance is that zero tolerance when it comes to it and it is on the individual if he or she wants to get assistance, internally or externally, we are open to anything that the victim may choose to do.”

Duane Moody

“If any person within the B.D.F. is found guilty of having perpetrated any kind of assault against any member of the B.D.F, is that person going to be taken out of the force?”

Brigadier General Azariel Loria

“If anybody is culpable at the conclusion of the investigation, if they investigate it externally, the police will definitely take it to the courts and the judges will decide on the fate of the individual. In the B.D.F., depending on the case, if the soldier is found guilty we have various sorts of punishments that could lead from summary disposals, summary trials to court marshals. If court marshal is formed up then the judge will decide what the conviction or the punishment will be.”