Newspaper messenger charged w/ theft

Sessions in the new Belize City Magistrate Court opened without fanfare this morning and for Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord, it was business as usual. One of the first cases on his docket today was that of messenger Luis Rodriguez, accused of stealing almost two thousand dollars from his bosses at the Reporter Press. Manager Lizbeth Ayuso testified that over the last two months, Rodriguez collected monies on behalf of the company, but never handed in the cash. Ayuso says when she contacted clients regarding non-payment, she was shown receipts for the respective amounts on stationery not used by the Reporter. Moreover, customers had the signature “L. Rodriguez” on their documents to prove that they gave him the money. The accused pled not guilty to seven counts of theft and was granted bail of four thousand dollars.