B.D.F. soldier dead under mysterious circumstances

It never reached the media through police or military channels but tonight the family of a B.D.F soldier, Lance Corporal Warren Cho, have doubts about his sudden death after he was found floating barely alive in the Macal River last Friday morning. Cho died last night at Universal Health Services and is due to undergo an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Family members say they understand that he and a group of other B.D.F. soldiers went on a drinking binge last Thursday in the Cayo District. During that spree, the soldiers ended up embroiled in a brawl among themselves and Cho had to be restrained and handcuffed. However, sometime later he reportedly escaped and was eventually found floating in the river. Cho’s father, Benigno Cho, says he has many questions.

Benigno Cho, Father, B.D.F. Lance Cpl. Warren Cho
“I saw bruises. Yes, I saw that but when I heard this they told me that when this thing happened they were drinking alcohol. At that very moment maybe they start to get high and then they start to fight each other; they and the female person.”

Marion Ali
“So the soldiers were fighting among themselves?”

Benigno Cho
“Among themselves fighting, I heard. I don’t if it’s very true but …”

Marion Ali
“What have the B.D.F. force, what have they told you?”

Benigno Cho
“The commander told me that they were drinking there, they told me that they’re going to investigate. So they have to go to the bar owner and the security.”

Marion Ali
“What you think happened?”

Benigno Cho
“I think they just—as far as I know—they just chase my son, grab him, beat him up and throw him in the Macal River. I want them to investigate. I want them to find out what really happened noh. I want to see something happen, see who really do it but as the commander tell me that it’s just drinking and then start to give trouble and the security put him in handcuff and then the boy escaped. That’s what the commander tell me.”

Marion Ali
“The boy as in your son?”

Benigno Cho
“He’s my son, yes. But when I find out now I see bruise.”

Up to news time the Belize Defence Force had not released any details about the death of Lance Corporal Cho. In another fatality on the water, police report the death of eighteen year old Walfre Cabrera. Cabrera reportedly went swimming Sunday afternoon with a friend at Vista Del Mar in Ladyville and went under when he ventured into water over his head. His body was not discovered until Monday morning.