No arrests yet in passport theft

An official investigation into the disappearance of one hundred passports from the Immigration Department in Belmopan continues but as of news time tonight no one has been charged in connection with the incident. According to police, the two employees detained following the report, Finance Officer Audrey Bennett and her deputy Jacqueline Wagner, have been questioned and released following forty-eight hours of detention. Official sources tell News Five that while the matter may appear to be an open and shut case since Wagner and Bennett were in charge of safekeeping the documents, a lack of conclusive evidence could prevent police from making an arrest. The passports were reported missing by Bennett when she returned from holiday last Thursday. During her absence, Wagner assumed her responsibilities. The incident has sparked renewed criticism of the Immigration Department and its director. Just over a year ago, two hundred passports also disappeared from the confines of Belmopan office. Though it was strongly suspected to have been the work of employees of the department, no one has ever been charged. In an interview with us on Friday, Director of Immigration Carmen Zetina expressed frustration as he confessed that even though all recommendations for improved security measures following the first incident have been implemented, the documents still managed to disappear.