Barot and Kumar in India – What’s Next?

Tonight, Keyur Barot and Jitendra Kumar are back in India. The duo was under protective custody in Belize because of a human trafficking allegation they made against their former boss businessman, Jack Charles. Their statements were recorded on video by the police. The men had allegedly stolen a vehicle and money from Charles in September of last year.  Back then it was reported that the former employees were on their way to Dangriga to collect cash sales in that town.  The men were in a vehicle that belonged to Charles when they reportedly made off with sixty-two thousand dollars.  The vehicle was found in neighboring Melchor and the men were picked up in Mexico and brought back to Belize. It was then that the men reported that they were being held against their will and forced to work.  Here’s how ACP Myvett explains how they will proceed with the matter despite the fact that the men are not in country.

Joseph Myvett

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“It is still an ongoing investigation. Statements were video recorded from both persons in the presence of a Justice of the Peace and someone from the Human Services Department. This is still an ongoing investigation and in cases like these, the witness does not necessarily has to be present since their statements were video-recorded and in the event that this matter is brought to trial, in some cases, testimonies by means of Skype is allowed in the courts, depending on the judge, I believe. They were in protective custody and I believe they were repatriated back to India but the investigation is still ongoing.”

Reporter

“And at this time you can’t say or confirm if their employer, Jack Charles, because we got this information that they were somehow being held?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“That was a part of the trafficking in persons investigation and is still pretty much on going.”

Andrea Polanco

“Sir, so if these persons are found guilty of a particular crime, what do you do then because they are in India. Do they get sent back to Belize – is there an agreement with India? What happens next?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“At some part of the inception of this case, it was explained that in a case of where an allegation of theft is made and as it relates to trafficking in person, and those persons make a claim that that was a means of them getting away from whoever was trafficking them, then that charge of theft is held in abeyance whilst the investigation is ongoing.”

Andrea Polanco

“And it’s not – if it turns out that Charles wasn’t holding them against their will and they are found guilty of theft?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“Well, that is a part of the investigation and I do not want to speculate as to whether if not.”