Alleged Crooked Cops Busted for Shaking Down Students

Marvin Salam

This afternoon, CIB personnel escorted two of their own to court to be arraigned for extortion. Corporal Marvin Salam, a police officer of Corozal, along with Corporal Anthony Blair of the Ladyville area, appeared before Magistrate Carlon Mendoza. The duo is stationed at the Racoon Street Police station in Belize City. Allegations are that on July fifteenth in Belize City, the duo demanded five thousand dollars from Hermant Bhojwani and his mother Jessica, which they were not authorized to do. But they pleaded not guilty of the charge and were offered bail of three thousand dollars. Hermant, a Belizean student of Albert Street, claims that he was travelling along with Gabriel Taylor and Chelsea Mitchell towards Central American Boulevard when he was pulled over by the cops.  The group was searched and inside the vehicle, three suspected marijuana seeds were allegedly found on the floor behind the driver’s seat. A further search led to the discovery of a piece of foil with white substance.

Anthony Blair

Hermant claims that outside the station, the two officers asked him what he could offer. He said two thousand dollars and the officers escorted him to his house where they demanded five thousand dollars from his mother.  The officers then took him back to the Mahogany Police Station where his vehicle was returned to him and the group was released without any charges. Hermant claims that his mother was to hand over the money on Monday, at the corner of Church Street and East Canal, but police moved in on Salam. On Tuesday, his alleged accomplice Blair was detained. The cops will re-appear in court in September. It is reported that a third officer in the police vehicle at the time of the detention is working with the prosecution.