4 nabbed for Chin; are they in Fuentes’ gang?
Three days after the body of Belize City businessman Phillip Chin was found just off the Northern Highway, tonight four young people have been arrested and charged with his murder. According to police, nineteen year old Deon Slusher, twenty-one year old Jeremy Harris, a seventeen year old woman and fifteen year old girl were all charged this morning with murder, burglary and robbery. The seventeen-year-old has also been charged with the theft of Chin’s gun, a thirty-eight Smith and Wesson revolver. Reports are that a predawn raid conducted on a house in Belama Phase Three netted police several items believed to be Chin’s, including the gun, over a hundred rounds of ammunition, a dagger, electronic equipment and a number of CDs. Police say they have also confiscated several other items believed to have been purchased using the money stolen from Chin.
But while it is certain the four will face the charge of murder for Chin, their case has taken a disturbing twist. According to police, a watch and cell phone identified as those of Raymond Olivera were also found in the house. Olivera, a former police corporal, was found dead on January twenty-fourth near the Blue Hole National Park on the Hummingbird Highway. Police suspect that Olivera was being tortured when he suffered a heart attack and died. His car has yet to be recovered.
It is now strongly believed that the four people charged today may be part of a violent gang responsible for the deaths of Mark Ireland, Anthony Adderley and the attempted murder of Joel Waight. Police have yet to detain the suspected ringleader of the group, twenty-six year old Jermaine Fuentes and his associate, twenty-one year old Ian Sutherland. Both men are considered armed and dangerous and anyone knowing their whereabouts is asked to contact the nearest police station immediately.
Meanwhile, the United Democratic Party announced today that they will be holding a memorial service for Phillip Chin at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral on Saturday at five in the evening. His body will be flown out of the country on Sunday for burial services abroad.
