Police officer found guilty of robbery

Nov 18, 2010

Police officer found guilty of robbery

Michael Diaz

A nineteen year old police officer, who was on trial for snatching a chain from Eberto Castellanos, was today found guilty of Theft. On July third, PC Michael Diaz grabbed Castellanos’ six hundred dollar gold chain from around his neck and sped off on bicycle. But he didn’t get far because Castellanos caught him and demanded back the jewelry. While Diaz didn’t get to keep the chain, he still has to pay for the crime because he was fined one thousand dollars, half of which had to be paid forthwith. During trial, Castellanos admitted that he did not get a good look at Diaz’ face and there was no identification parade when he was charged. But his fate was sealed when PC Aniver Castellanos, the officer that made the arrest, told the court that Diaz was the man he detained following the incident. Diaz, however, claimed he was on Cemetery Road when a police officer grabbed him and took him in for no reason. Magistrate Emerson Banner didn’t buy that story and convicted him, but did not impose a jail term because he is a first time offender. Diaz was on interdiction since the incident and will not be reinstated since he was found guilty.

Robert says:

November 19, 2010 at 1:21 am

Another small victory for the good guys and the people of Belize. If we can keep our heads down and move from one victory to the next, the country can be a paradise again. And a great place to raise a family.

BZNinCALI says:

November 19, 2010 at 1:55 am

Can the government get the salary they paid him while he was awaiting trial, the city council needs the money to pay the garbage collectors.

rootsman says:

November 19, 2010 at 1:01 pm

Ok let me see if I can understand this a cop is released for a snatch and grab because he had no previous record however Francisco Rodriguez an eighteen year old who also had no previous record is given a year in jail (http://archive.channel5belize.com/archives/41818)

Belize your laws are so very unfair, in my opinion this cop should have been handed down a much harsher sentence since his job is to protect and serve the public and his actions were quite contrary to that, I think that the case of Francisco Rodriguez should be revisited and some leniency should also be shown before Francisco serves this time and turns to a real hard core criminal.

Channel 5 this should be a good case for you guys to follow and to show the parallels and disparity of the justice system in Belize, I think an interview with Magistrate Emerson Banner would be in order to get his opinion on the reason for such disparity in his sentencing in these two cases of a similar nature, this might just be a start to getting some credibility back in the legal system.