A Look at Corporal Nah’s Many Alleged Criminal Involvements
Elmer Nah
Sworn to protect and serve, Corporal Elmer Nah, badge number 1229, has been accused, on several occasions in the past, of running afoul of the very laws that he vowed to enforce as an officer of the Belize Police Department. Today, he is once again the prime suspect in a heinous New Year’s Eve attack that left two persons dead and two others injured. The policeman, who was on interdiction for a previous incident involving the landing of a drug plane on the Southern Highway near Bladen in 2021, is also a suspect in another deadly shooting on December twenty-ninth. News Five’s Isani Cayetano looks back at several stories in which Nah was named as a person of interest.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Elmer Nah’s history as a rogue cop is well-documented. During the murder trial of former Woman Police Constable Michelle Brown, who was accused of the shooting death of Belize City barber Fareed Ahmad, she testified under oath that Corporal Elmer Nah was in fact the triggerman.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Yes, Michelle Brown did made mention of certain things on the stand in court. That cannot be regarded as evidence for us. She will have to, perhaps, approach the DPP and give a statement, separate and apart from what we already have on file, and based on that then the DPP, if she were to find it to be believable or reasonable, may issue directives to the police where that is concerned.”
Taheera Ahmad
File: December 18th, 2020 Taheera Ahmad, Sister of Deceased
“Well I think quite a bit came up during the trial. I think, as well, there were certain names of officers that she also mentioned and maybe that is an element for question in terms of prosecution and the DPP’s office. Why were those missing pieces not presented in the trial. It’s unfortunate how it ended up, but this is the process and we have to respect what arises out of it.”
Rafael Garrido
In early 2021, the family of Rafael Garrido believed that the officer may have been involved in his disappearance and subsequent murder.
Adriana Garrido
File: February 16th, 2021 Adriana Garrido, Mother of Deceased
“I need justice for my son. Dehn noh bruk me; dehn mek me stronger. Anybody out there weh kill my son, now I know that ih dead. I am aware of everything, but yo know something, the pain, the hurt; everything make we stronger for my son. I wah deh deh fi my son, I wah bury ahn. Thank God for that; I find di body and I wah ker ahn home. But this da just the beginning because I noh wahn sleep. I need justice fi my son and I need the police fi do dehn job. I noh care who deh out there, Mister Chester, whosoever. I need answers for my son and now da di time.”
According to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, while Nah’s name was mentioned in relation to that incident, investigators had nothing substantial to go by that would tie him to the murder of Rafael Garrido.
Chester Williams
“So yes, in Garrido’s case, Nah’s name was called, but there was nothing tangible that we could have gone with to say, “You know what, we can charge.” If anybody at this time has any information that they believe can help, the case is still open. We are willing to listen and record statements or gather evidence, as the case may be, to further the matter.”
Several months later, in 2021, Corporal Nah, along with several other officers attached to the Commander of Operations’ Strike Team, a specialized unit led by former Deputy Commissioner of Police Marco Vidal, was busted in connection with the landing of a drug plane near Bladen Village.
Chester Williams
File: November 8th, 2021 Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“On Saturday night, Independence police were on a checkpoint. And, having received certain information, they attempted to stop two vehicles that were coming from the direction of where the plane had landed. Upon stopping those vehicles, one of the vehicles was occupied by Corporal Nah, his wife, his daughter, and another police officer. A search of the vehicle lead to the discovery of one issued nine millimeter pistol and over one hundred point two-two-three rounds of ammunition. From what we believe, yes those ammunitions are police ammunitions, but Corporal Nah is on leave, so he ought not to be in possession of the department’s ammunition, particularly in such quantity. Based on that, he was detained. And the investigation based on his involvement in the plane landing was also done.”
In the wake of the drug plane landing, Nah was sidelined from active duty. A tribunal within the police department subsequently cleared him of the internal charges brought against him.
Chester Williams
“Since Nah had been on interdiction, the police had been to his home on a number of occasions to conduct searches. So while yes, he has been inactive, we have been on him as well. And as the commissioner, I can only do so much. There are many police officers I wish I could just do away with, but what can I do? I am a creature of law and we have to going through a process in order to dismiss somebody and Nah is going through that process. I don’t control his movements, neither does the minister, neither does Mr. Carcamo who is in charge of Belmopan. He is a big man, the court grants him bail, he is free, and the very least we can do is to monitor him as best we can. We cyant babysit ahn.”
Notwithstanding the decision of the tribunal, the internal matter against Corporal Nah is being appealed based on errors made by the adjudicator of that case. Isani Cayetano for News Five.
