No evidence against Easy Glenn, but James Suazo Guilty of scam
James Suazo
Minister Michael Finnegan spoke to the media last week about a scam in which his name was allegedly being used to solicit funds from various businesses and the Ministry of Works. Police soon arrested the accused men, Goldburn “Easy Glenn” Adolphus and James Suazo, but due to a lack of evidence, Adolphus was released. Suazo, however, has been charged and police have released details on two businesses that he allegedly swindled out of cash. Belize Waste Control Limited reports that on November thirtieth, they received a call from someone claiming to be Finnegan and requesting financial assistance of one thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars to be picked up by two of his boys. Arrangements were made and a cheque for the requested amount was made out to Suazo and collected five minutes later. Then on December seventeenth, the owner of Salvador Habet Limited says that someone who identified himself as Finnegan called his business and requested a donation of four hundred and fifty dollars towards a party he was hosting for some workers on Albert Street. Salvador Habet Junior agreed to give three hundred dollars and arrangements were made for Suazo to collect the money, which he did less than two hours later. Police Press Officer, Raphael Martinez spoke to the media about charges against Suazo.
Raphael Martinez, Police Press Officer
Raphael Martinez
“The incident regarding James Suazo; we had two separate incidents, one on the seventeenth and the other on the twentieth. The first was, as a matter of fact, as early as the thirtieth of November where it is report that one James Swaso was soliciting funds on behalf of Minister Finnegan. He has since been arrested and charged by the police with Obtaining Property by Deception and with Theft. As I mentioned, this occurred when he solicited funds from Belize Waste Control and the other one from Salvador Habet on Regent Street.”
Supt. Alden Dawson, O.C., Crimes Investigation Branch
“From what we have here in Belize City, there is no evidence—absolutely no evidence against Mr. Adolphus. He has been picked up by Orange Walk police and he has since been released by CIB here.”
Suazo appeared unrepresented before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer this morning and pleaded not guilty to two counts of Obtaining Property by Deception. He was granted bail of eight thousand dollars and is due back in court on February twenty-fifth. Suazo told our court reporter today that he did collect money from the businesses but that it was donation for a program that he is a part of in the Port Loyola area. He claims it was legitimate business, that he didn’t deceive anyone and that he cannot imitate Minister Finnegan.
“absolutely no evidence against Mr. Adolphus.”
Drum roll, please
A) Finegan is incompetent, making false accusations of criminal behavior against a fine UDP supporter and upstanding Belizean citizen.
B) police and prosecutors are incompetent, unable to make a case not knowing what criminal evidence is.
C) help me, I am short on conclusions. Anybody?
THE JEWEL MUST HAVE A LAW TO REQUIRE ALL POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO BE REPORTED AND DISCLOSED PUBLICLY, ON PAIN OF PRISON.
“Business as usual,” politicians taking cash bribes — I mean, donations — is dirty business and it is intended to destroy democracy. Politicians who are for sale should be in prison.
I think ALL CASH PAYMENTS to elected officials should be made a serious crime. Bribing politicians [both the briber and the bribee] is no different than treason in my eyes.
Non-cash payments should be reported on a public website for all to see, who made it, who received it, when and how much was “contributed.”
How else can we begin to reduce “pay to play” in Belizean government?
It sounds like common practice for a minister to call and request $$ from businesses..This is known as extortion or raqueteering in other countries, what is it called in Bze?
PUDP are not politcal parties they are Criminal Organizations posing as political parties.