Transport Officer Andrea Peters Charged for Extortion

Andrea Peters

There numerous claims of bribery by motorists in attempt to catch a break when passing through checkpoints. But tonight, an employee of the Transport Department is in hot water after she was charged for extortion. Last Wednesday, three transport officers were detained in connection with a report made by Diaris Tepaz who claims that she was being extorted by the officers.  We are told that Tepaz, who is the wife of a police officer, was being asked for five hundred dollars and in exchange she would not be charged for a traffic violation. She made a report to the police, who organized a sting operation where marked bills were handed over to the transport officer. That operation later implicated Andrea Peters, who has since been charged with the crime of extortion. ACP Hilberto Romero shared details.

Hilberto Romero

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Wednesday, the seventh day of June, 2023 around eleven a.m., police received a report from a complainant, one Diaris Tepaz, thirty-four years who reported that she was driving her Chevy Equinox vehicle on the highway, near Independence, when she came across a Transport Department checkpoint. She reported that when her vehicle was checked, it was found out that the vehicle was not insured and she was told that she was going to be charged. However, one of the transport officers then informed her that if she paid five hundred dollars that she would be released and not charged. Arrangements were made and a part of the payment was made. Police responded, they apprehended the three transport officers and after an investigation was conducted, one Andrea Peters, Belizean transport officer of Pomona Village was charged for the crime of extortion. One person was charged.”

Duane Moody

“Sir, this was a sting operation that the police did?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“Well the sting was when the payment was made. But that is a usual checkpoint that was set up on the highway.”

Reporter

“So she alerted the police to the bribe or extortion before she paid and then…?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“Yes that is correct. She made a report prior to the payment.”

Duane Moody

“Is this something that was being investigated before because it would seem that this is not first time that this had happened, just that it happened to a person that was smart enough to take it to the police?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“Whenever these incidents happen, we respond if they are reported. So yes she made a report, it was followed up and that is where we intercepted the persons and one person was charged for extortion.”