Worship Leader, Arraigned on 13 Counts of Aggravated Assault

Mervin Budram

In early August, news broke that a Belizean worship leader was being accused by a few young women of indecent sexual assault. The number of accusations has grown to several since then. The National Evangelical Association of Belize, NEAB, issued a press release two days later, expressing shock at the news, but commending and offering solidarity for the alleged victims. Back then, the Commissioner of Police had indicated that the case file had been forwarded to the office of the D.P.P. for review and instruction. Well the directive this week has been to charge the worship leader. And when he appeared in the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court on Monday, the charges were plenty – thirteen counts by two complainants. News Five’s Marion Ali has the story in this report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

Thirteen counts of Aggravated Assault of an Indecent Nature by two female complainants – that’s what the police brought against Mervin Budram when he appeared in the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court on Monday. And when the Jubilee Ministries Worship Leader was arraigned, he was granted bail of six thousand dollars. Back when the news broke, News Five had spoken with two young women who have accused him of sexually assaulting them. Kelsie Parham and Jaqui Flotow had one thing in common: they feared that no one would believe their story.

Kelsie Parham

Kelsie Parham, Accuses Mervin Budram of Sexual Assault (File: August 8th, 2023)

“I came to Belmopan when I was in high school. My parents were split. I was between Belize City and here. I came to Belmopan and quickly found out who was the quote unquote, “popular people”, who were the Belmopan veterans, the people that everyone praised, loved and talked about. And, I realized Mervin was one of them and I quickly realized after the situation that happened, it would be my word against his and I really didn’t think my word would carry any weight or anyone would believe me.”

Jaqui Flotow

Jaqui Flotow, Accuses Mervin Budram of Sexual Assault (File: August 8th, 2023)

“This is a person who was a friend of mine, someone who I trusted, so I think it was immediately trying to get my brain around what had happened and also feeling like I could not tell anyone, because they would not believe me. I think that too it was a very real thing, like I wouldn’t be believed.”

This morning on Rise and Shine, Louis Wade Junior, who is a member of NEAB and also has his own church, spoke on the matter. He said that Budram has been doing what is recommended.

Louis Wade Jr.

Louis Wade Jr., Host, Rise and Shine Talk Show

“He takes care of his family. He has been receiving counseling, therapy, pastoral support, he has been going to meetings that have been called both to discipline him and to reprimand him as well as to build him up spiritually because he is apologetic. He has – in the past, I think some of the videos that the media played when I was absent, showed Mervin speaking about his personal struggles in those area. And it’s not my job to say where Mervin was or where he is, but we know where we want him to be – the end result, for him as well as the end result for those who have been hurt in some way or another, directly or indirectly, by his actions.”

Wade said that while the church believes in forgiveness and counseling, it also believes in the rule of law.

Louis Wade, Jr.

“If there were criminal acts that were carried out during that person’s period of addiction in any way, then they have to suffer the consequences of the law. We believe in the rule of law. And restitution, when you pick up the phone and say “I am deeply sorry” for hurting you, for offending you, for whatever it is that you have done wrong. We help people through those processes.”

Budram is scheduled to reappear in court on January eighth. Marion Ali for News Five.