ComPol Says His Car Dealership is Legitimate and Borja Purchased from Him
Chester Williams
ComPol Williams also answered questions about a vehicle that Ricardo Borja purchased from his car dealership just a couple months before Borja’s murder. During the lengthy back and forth, the reporter suggested that car dealerships are a way of laundering money. Williams chastised that reporter, and retorted that people can launder money using various means. Here’s how it went.
Reporter
“This fancy pickup that Mr. Borja bought in July, around the same time he was acquiring guns and getting licenses for them, July 17th to 26th, did you sell him that fancy Toyota pickup?”
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“A person from Belize City called me and said that Borja wanted to buy a pickup. I sent the pickup to Belize City, they took it to the person, the person called me subsequently and said, the man liked the pickup, he’s going to buy it, I was paid for the pickup and that’s it.”
Reporter
“So this is a $90,000 truck.”
Chester Williams
“Jules, it’s not a $90,000 truck. It’s a $70,000 truck. You always want to add things to whatever.”
Reporter
“It looks like a $90,000 truck.”
Chester Williams
“At the end of the day, if I have a car dealership and I have done everything I need to do to legitimize my business why must that be an issue? You want to see me landing planes? You want to see me doing acts of corruption?”
Reporter
“Because you know that car dealerships are a way of laundering money, Sir.”
Chester Williams
“So are you accusing me of laundering money?”
Reporter
“I’m not accusing you of doing that.”
Chester Williams
“Well, that’s how you’re making it sound.”
Reporter
“No, Sir. I am not accusing you of that. I am saying that you and I know.”
Chester Williams
“Jules Vasquez, for the record, I took my hard earned money, I invested it, and I turned it over, because at the end of the day, I want that whatever I do is legitimate. I don’t know if you have ever done favors to people and don’t charge. But not every time you do a favor for people, you must charge them. It’s as simple as that. And, again, if I have a business, which I do, like many other public officers, I’m not the only public officer who has a business other than the work that they do. I offer no apology for that, and if you have an issue with that, that is your business. But please stop accusing me of things that I’m not doing because last time I saw you went again and you re associated me with Cars 501, which I have said to you is not for me. So please, Mr. Vasquez, get it right. Stop di listen to the nonsense weh dehn feed you. When the law suit comes, I hope they can help you pay.”
Reporter
“We know that’s not you, Sir, we know that criminal elements, when they need to turn over money, they invest in cars, and that’s a process that I’ve seen even the gangs use, but with facilitation from people in politics.”
Chester Williams
“People could launder money even in the media. Selling vehicles is the least way that you can launder money. There are other innovative ways, like having a media house.”
Reporter
“Oh, God. Or a law firm for that matter.”
Chester Williams
“Or a law firm.”
