Cashier charged with Paslow building fire

One week ago city residents watched in disbelief as flames destroyed the top floor of the Paslow building at the corner of Queen and North Front streets. Within hours, the fire department managed to contain the blaze and since then, have been sifting through the charred, waterlogged debris for clues as to what started it all. Today, the joint police and fire investigation climaxed as the team has concluded that a Belize City man was responsible for the disaster.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting

This morning, twenty-three year old Ivan Ayuso appeared before Magistrate Earl Jones on the charge of arson, in connection with the September twenty-ninth fire at the Paslow Building. Ayuso had worked in the building as a second class clerk, or cashier, with the Magistrate’s Court for just over a year.

As for a possible motive to the incident, this morning Ayuso was also charged with two counts of false accounting after an internal audit by the Office of the Auditor General revealed financial improprieties; and it is now suspected the young man might have been trying to destroy possible evidence against him.

News 5 understands that the police investigation has revealed that around 9:00 on the morning of the fire, Ayuso went to the building. He says his Sunday visit was to retrieve a forgotten belonging, but authorities suspect otherwise.

Family members say the charges against their relative come as a surprise, describing the father of two as a quiet young man. Ivan Ayuso was denied bail this morning and remanded to custody. Reporting for News 5, I am Janelle Chanona.

Representing Ivan Ayuso is attorney Simeon Sampson. The trial has been adjourned until October twenty-first.