Investigation into Lt. Col. Charlton Roaches & Belize Jungle Experience Ltd Still Ongoing

Steven Ortega

In 2017, we reported on parts of the findings of the Auditor General’s Report on Belize Jungle Experience Limited owned by Lieutenant Colonel Charlton Roches of the B.D.F.  The B.D.F. contracted Belize Jungle Experience Limited to conduct the training of the German military.  Roches was paid a large sum of money for this training in 2016 in which costs may have been overestimated.  The audit found that Roches profited from business transactions done with the German army – monies that should have been collected by the Government of Belize.  He was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a probe by an investigative team.  It’s been almost three years, and according to B.D.F. Commander Steven Ortega, the investigation has been passed on to the police and is still ongoing.

Brig. Gen. Steven Ortega, Commander, B.D.F.

“That investigation is still ongoing by the police department. It is an ongoing. We started it and then we realized that it is best we hand it over to the police.”