Lawyer: Affif is on holiday, not on the lam

And in an update to a story we reported on earlier this week relating to the passport scandal, this afternoon attorney Michel Chebat informed us that his client, businessman Gabby Affif, is on vacation and does not consider himself to be a fugitive from the law. While Chebat declined to indicate Affif’s whereabouts or projected date of return to Belize, he does maintain that Affif will be coming home of his own volition, and quote, “isn’t running away from anything.” Running or not, among those in the greeting party at the airport will be the police, as the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has publicly indicated that wanted posters for both Affif, and Belize City businessman Hassan Al Sayed, will be printed and distributed at key entry points. Indictments have been issued for both men on five charges, including forgery of official documents and money laundering. The charges arise out of evidence that Belizean citizenship and passports were illegally granted to a large number of ineligible foreign nationals, based on forged and falsified applications. To date only one person, Therese Cabral of Belize City, has appeared in court to answer charges in the scandal.