Shopkeeper was not robbed by police, says attorney

In Magistrate Court today, the attorney for four police officers accused of shaking down a Belize City shopkeeper said the men acted “reasonably and intelligently.” Attorney Simeon Sampson made a no case submission today, claiming that the policemen had reason to believe Percy Chow was selling illegal lottery and were investigating the claim when they entered his shop on Freetown Road on March fifth, 2002. Sampson told Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord that there was no accounting system in place at the shop to corroborate Chow’s allegation that one hundred dollars went missing from his cashbox after the officers, Vladimir Ortega, Jesus Dominguez, Filomeno Badillo, and Cornelio Andueza came into his shop. The men were unable to appear in court because they were stranded in San Pedro due to the threat of Hurricane Wilma. But Sampson told the court the men had identified themselves as policemen and in his words “perpetuated certain acts which obligated Percy Chow to summon police assistance.” The first officer to come on the scene was Lincoln Kellyman, however, he was killed in a traffic accident two years ago and his evidence could not be presented. Although there was a surveillance camera in the shop and portions of the alleged shakedown were aired on TV the day after the incident, there was a dispute about the tape and it was not entered as evidence. The officers are charged with robbery and aggravated assault, and it is now up to the Chief Magistrate to give his decision, which is expected sometime tomorrow.