$750 fine for stealing blocks worth less than $9
Clinton Martin
In the courts, forty-five year old Clinton Martin, who was caught red handed stealing cement blocks at the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association, was today spared from going to jail after he pleaded guilty to the charge of theft. The Security Guard, Andy Martinez, reported that this past Sunday, at about two-thirty p.m., he saw Martin, wearing a yellow shirt, taking the blocks from the water taxi terminal. He escorted Martin to the nearby Queen Street Police Station where he was charged for stealing six cement blocks belonging to David Phillips, the owner of the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association. Despite the fact that Martin had a previous conviction for a crime of dishonesty, Chief Magistrate Margaret Gabb McKenzie showed mercy and imposed a fine of seven hundred and fifty dollars which is far more than the nine dollars worth of blocks. Martin has six months to pay the fine or face imprisonment.
$750 for stealing blocks, what’s wrong with that?
This is a chance to force this thief to earn some money in an honest way, instead of stealing what does not belong to him.
I am sick and tired of these animals, really.
What can this fool possibly build with Six cement block.
why have mercy on him!!! its a shame, the magistrate is encouraging this man to continue stealing,
they should make sure he chop and clean the streets and pick up garbage for five years and pay him stipend, this a real mada ….
Elgin..those six cement blocks could be used to hold the foundation of his little house or home. He did the crime and must do the time. Too bad its the small guys that get fined and sentenced yet the ones who steal millions get away. Money still rules….
maddyvandijk says:
I am sick and tired of these animals, really. —— YOU ARE LOOKING IN THE MIRROR maddyvandike….. these “animals” are a reflection of YOU!!!!!!!!
Truly said Oscar965, dont Belize Judiciary system have community services for petty theft,etc? Why is it always pay a fine, send these people out with their orange vest to clean the highway and the city of Belize.
Dont loose focus Earl Grey
WHY DID THEY GIVE THIS MAN A FINE INSTEAD OF COMMUNITY SERVICE? ARE THEY TELLING HIM WE KNOW THAT YOU CANNOT PAY THAT AMOUNT SO WE WILL PUT YOU IN JAIL LATER? OR, TO GO AND STEAL SOME MORE TO PAY THE FINE. IF CAUGHT YOU WILL SPEND A LONG TIME IN PRISON. TOTALLY RIDICULOUS
the long arm of the law need to be working come on my belizean people rise up
stealing is just the beginning, then lying and eventually killing.
MUSA is walking free , BARROW is pocketing away – an older guy without a job and forced by the system is sent to JAIL. If a Man can not buy 6 blocks then he can not pay 750. What the government needs is to stop stealing and use the money that they recieve TO EMPLOY PEOPLE but you guys in Belize calling this guy animals are DUMB – voting for Thieves to go in power who force these poor people to steal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
franklin, many Belizeans are poor but they still live honest lives, it is a matter of choice to steal, or kill. This man made his choice, and in six months tax payers will be taking care of him in jail.
I do agree with you that the GOB do need to look out for their people, but they are not doing very much and people are not exactly giving out jobs on the street sides. people will vote for the UDP and they will vote for the PUP, problem is both parties are no good for Belize, the people have to trust in a new party.
I agree Franklin true statement most of these people that made these dumb comments
wont even say a word when (government hawks) are stealing, but wanna open their mouth
when some common person steal. You support any modern governmental system
you supporting thieves. We have a whole modern system that built on stealing and
looting from Indigenous People.
what a shame! Why fine a man $750 for 6 cement blocks? There is no kind of justice in this country! This guy has already been given a chance before and this kind of actions will only push him to go out on the streets to commit a greater crime. The right thing to do was to give him 1 year of imprisonment for each blocks that he stole. Maybe this would make him realize that what he’s doing is totally wrong. He could have asked for help instead of taking things for granted.
Well said, Franklin!
“JEJJEEJ EVEN THE MURDERS WALKS FREE…….. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT WITH OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM,ALL OF THEM THINK BACKWARDS,LOL ITS A SHAME THATS WHY THE CRIME SITUATION IS OUT OF CONTROL. AND ONCE OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BE THE SAME, TINGS WILL NOT GET BETTER- ITS GOING TO GET WORST EVERYDAY.
I doubt this man will learn this way. Instead he should have been forced to work for 6 months hard labor with the Belize City Council. Work for his meals.
Even more, how come he neva get the same sentence as the one who got 6 years sentence for 23 empty bottles. What kind of justice system does Belize have? No f-ing consistency. I say fire all these stupid magistrates and hire new ones weh actually have sense. Get rid of the DPP and COMPOL too!
$750 to be paid in 6 months.. he steal from someone on the street and he can pay in two weeks.. magistrate is an … send he ……. dah jail.. haad labor..
Sick Tim, but true.