Sleeping B.D.F. soldiers sentenced to 40 days and nights for missing M16

One police officer and two B.D.F. soldiers were asleep on the job when they lost an M-sixteen A-one rifle on Saturday morning. The police have not been heard from but the B.D.F. soldiers have admitted that they failed in executing their duty.  The B.D.F.’s Adjutant, Major Alvin Amoa, says that several charges are being brought up against the soldiers.  But they aren’t the only ones who are going to be charged. Last week Tuesday, an M-four carbine which disappeared from the B.D.F.’s guardroom in January, was recovered in Esperanza Village along with Gary Seawell, a fugitive from who is wanted on several charges including narco-trafficking. According to Major Amoa, the soldiers who were on duty when an M-four carbine rifle disappeared also face serious disciplinary measures.

Major Alvin Amoa, Adjutant, BDF

Maj. Alvin Amoa

“The two soldiers are in agreement that they failed on their part. So they accept their responsibility for their mistake.”

Jose Sanchez

“In regards to the first M4 that went missing, it is recovered now but are any charges to be levied against any of the soldiers who were on duty that night?”

Major Alvin Amoa

“The soldiers on duty, yes. There are charges that are being framed right now against some of the soldiers that were on duty during that tour where it was discovered that the weapon went missing. They are going to be charged for neglect of duty.”

Jose Sanchez

“Would that be the same thing that these soldiers would face for the M16?”

Major Alvin Amoa

“These soldiers will be facing one of those charges, but also he will be charged for other disciplinary measures for example, losing his equipment; Disobedience to Police Duties Standing Orders where it is read to them every evening before they mount duty the shift commander reads out the orders to them. So they know exactly what they can do from what they cannot do.”

Jose Sanchez

“With regards to the weapons, which were found in Esperanza; they recovered the BDF’s M4 carbine and also an M16. Isn’t that also a military weapon?”

Major Alvin Amoa

“The M4 recovered, yes it is our M4 that went missing from the guard room. The M16 is actually a civilian version of the military M16.  The weapon is actually marked point two-two-three which is actually the civilian classification. All military weapons would be marked five point five-six.  So that is the difference between the weapon that was discovered in Esperanza.  It’s a civilian M16 weapon.”

Jose Sanchez

“So that weapon is a legal weapon in the U.S. But it still would have been brought in illegally into Belize?”

Major Alvin Amoa

“Well we believe that it was brought in illegally inside Belize.”

Amoa says that the soldiers would be facing the force’s commander this week to hear the charges brought against them.  If anyone has any information that can lead to the M-sixteen’s recovery, Major Amoa asks that it is given directly to him at 225-2174.

The weapon is still missing but late word to the news from Major Amoa it that the B.D.F. has just finished its proceedings against the two officers who fell asleep.  Major Amoa says that Private Faustino Coc plead guilty to the four charges against him while Private Hubert Jones plead guilty to all six charges. Those charges include: prejudice of good order and military discipline; sleeping on duty; neglect to the prejudice of good order and discipline; negligently performing duties and disobedience to standing orders.  Jones faced two counts of ‘disobedience of standing orders’ because he is the private who lost the high powered M16 A1 rifle with a full cartridge while sleeping inside a police officer’s car.  Major Amoa said that the results of the blood and urine samples of both men were sent to the National Forensics Department and both men tested negative for alcohol and drugs.  Though they didn’t drink on the job, they are still in hot water as they will both be imprisoned at Price Barracks for the next forty days and forty nights; plenty time to sleep and think about their future.  And as part of their punishment they will forfeit their pay for the forty days period.  But it doesn’t end there for the disgraced soldiers.  Major Amoa says that the commander has recommended that both Coc and Jones be discharged from the B.D.F.  The Security Services Commission will now review the Commander’s decision.