Ahmads Say Surveillance Footage Not Clear as to Whether Accused was in Fareed Ahmad’s Vehicle
Fareed Ahmad
On Thursday afternoon, the Ahmad family, as well as members of the wider Muslim community in Belize, had an extensive sit-down with Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Elrington. He was accompanied by Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie, as well as several other ranking officers, including assistant commissioners Chester Williams and Joseph Myvett. The purpose of the meeting was for the grieving family to be updated on a criminal investigation into the murder of Fareed Ahmad. It was also an opportunity for both parties to make amends, following an unjustified raid on the family’s Hattieville residence in June 2016. During the discussion, ACP Chester Williams reportedly informed the gathering that he was in possession of surveillance footage which purports to show the deceased barber picking up Woman Police Constable Michelle Brown from a location near miles two and a half on the George Price Highway. In fact, it was a point that was later reiterated by Minister Elrington during a subsequent press brief where he stated that the video would be made available to the family for private viewing. The Ahmads have since looked at the recorded material and are unsatisfied with the information that was falsely portrayed to the media. For context, we will revisit what was said by the substantive minister of police in Thursday’s interview.
Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington
Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington, Minister of Home Affairs [File: January 11th, 2018]
“He was able to relate to the members of the family what his discoveries were. He essentially said he is very satisfied that there is no evidence of state involvement in the death. He went on to say, and I did not know that, that it was in fact the deceased who picked up the [woman] police [constable] and that there is in fact video of them being together for some time. He suggested to me, like a number of hours, and that there was no indication during that course of time that any other person from any branch of the police force was anywhere nearby. So that he was satisfied that based on the evidence there is no indication that the state had anything to do with the death or that the police had anything to do with the death. He also made it very clear to the family and to everybody that in fact police have requested of B.T.L. all the phone records, both from the deceased as well as from the woman police officer, and he’s left the very clear indication that no stone is being left unturned to find out what the situation is. For my part, I have offered to Brother Nuri whom I have known for so many years, I told him I would be prepared if he can, through the assistance of Brother Farrakhan whom we both know has a very extensive operation in the United States. If he can get through the assistance of Brother Farrakhan an expert to come to Belize to look at what we have and do an investigation, we‘d have no difficulty. So that the family can be satisfied that no stone is being left unturned to deal with this matter.”
Earlier today, the Ahmad family issued a release stating, quote, the family once again calls on the investigative team and our leaders to desist from generating and misrepresenting information regarding the murder of Fareed Ahmad. The video that the police showed us, that they obtained from a business near the roundabout at mile two and a half on the George Price Highway, does not show or confirm that the female was picked up by Fareed, unquote. In speaking with a member of the family this afternoon, News Five was informed that while the footage indeed shows a vehicle similar to one owned by the dead barber, it does not establish the license plate of the BMW, nor does it show the occupants of the vehicle. They are chiding the lead investigator, as well as the minister, for attempting to pass off as fact information that, at best, forms the basis of an assumption or a deduction.
