…Investigation launched by Ombudsman Office

Lionel Arzu

The family is running scared and, obviously afraid to go to the Police Department, have turned to the Ombudsman for help. When they first went to the office in Belize City, Marlon Flores had just been killed but Raul Balona was still alive. Now both brothers are dead, and the family feels they need the assistance of the Ombudsman more than ever. They are alleging that they have been continually harassed and threatened by the Police, and they feel that they are in extreme danger. It’s a touchy situation rife with serious allegations which has sparked an investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman.

FOR VIDEO CLICK HERE.

Lionel Arzu, Ombudsman

“What I know is that she has made a complaint and we will have to look at what she said and based on that we will look into it and liaise with the relevant authorities for answers.”

Clarence Slusher, Special Agent, Ombudsman’s Office

Clarence Slusher

“Our investigation is just commencing, and so we are at a green stage as we call it, but I can say that there are several alarming or serious allegations that are being put against members of the Belize Police Department and so we are looking at things from all angles. We are taking the allegations as we do in all cases, treating them with the diligence and the urgency that they deserve because all cases should be taken seriously. They came because they said that the first son had been killed and they were alleging other things as to how that had occurred, and we asked key questions such as the questions that were raised in the media to her of who…if they know the last person that the deceased Marlon Flores was seen with, and they had mentioned that someone, a friend of theirs, had seen him in Police custody, but we haven’t substantiated that as yet. I know that it is only allegations and I cannot say who, when or how, but I can tell you that there are allegations that they have been receiving threats since their first son died, and that they are alleging that these threats are coming from members of the Belize Police Department. That is what they are alleging…a small part of what they are alleging. And they are also alleging that they are receiving anonymous phone calls.”

Lionel Arzu

“I see a sense of urgency in her situation and hence the reason we will move as fast as we can in terms of trying to remedy her cause.”

Over the past two days, the Office of the Ombudsman has taken statements from all family members. While we were unable to get a precise timeline for the investigation, we do know that it is being treated as a priority file. We tried to reach the Commissioner of Police on the serious allegations, but he was unavailable.