Charges to be levied for the destruction of Noh Mul

In early May, the wrath of international and local media, the Institute of Archaeology, the Ministry of Culture and local organizations was brought down on the persons who willfully destroyed an ancient Mayan monument in the Orange Walk district. The site of Noh Mul was pillaged by the Demar’s Stone Company, owned by U.D.P. politician Denny Grijalva, to obtain materials to fix roads in the constituency of Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega. Grijalva’s heavy equipment was caught in the act of excavating material, and the damage to the monument was visible to the open eye and verified by the Institute of Archaeology. So it appeared to be an open and shut case, but has turned out to be anything but that. Nearly two months after the destruction of Noh Mul, there was finally word on Tuesday night that three persons had been detained. Mike Rudon was in Orange Walk to follow the story.

Mike Rudon, Reporting

This morning bright and early we camped out in front of the Orange Walk Police Station after word that three persons had been detained on Tuesday night. The lead investigator assigned to the Noh Mul matter is second in command at the Orange Walk formation Eugene Fuentes, but this morning he had no information or comment to give.

Unofficial sources from inside the Police Station told us that two men, truck driver CelestinoTeck and excavator driver Imer Cruz, were detained at about five yesterday evening and released at around eight last night. That source revealed that both men clammed up when questioned and demanded legal representation.

This morning foreman of the Demar’s stone company Javier Nunez turned himself into the Police Station after he heard that he was being sought for questioning. His interrogation was handled by these two special investigators brought in from the Crimes Investigation Branch in Belize City. Our source revealed that in his statement Nunez claims that he did not know where the material was coming from, and that in fact it was a village councilor from Douglas who went with the equipment to Noh Mul.

At around midday today, the only thing that Fuentes could tell us was that he was awaiting the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions to proceed, and up to two o’clock that advice had not been received.

Just after four this evening, we received word from the DPP’s office that those instructions to levy charges have been delivered to Orange Walk. The foreman of Demar’s Stone Company, Javier Nunez, will be charged for causing the destruction of an ancient monument. The excavator driver, allegedly Imer Cruz, will be handed two charges – removal of stone from an ancient monument and willfully damaging an ancient monument.

So where does the owner of Demar’s Stone Company, Denny Grijalva, fit in all this? Well, we understand that no charges will be laid against him personally, but charges of removal of stone from an ancient monument and willfully damaging an ancient monument will be brought against his company.

If this course of legal action after almost two months of investigation leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, we understand completely. But in the end, very few people are probably surprised by this outcome. Mike Rudon for News Five.

News Five understands from a source close to the investigation that despite his claims via press release that his company accepts responsibility for the destruction of the site, Grijalva allegedly instructed his drivers and equipment operators not to speak to the Police or to assist in any way with the investigation. As we told you, the D.P.P. has issued the instructions to levy charges, but at news time that had not happened. And even if the men are detained, they will not be formally arraigned until Friday since there will be no magistrate in Orange Walk until then.