The trio raided the bank’s ATM almost countrywide
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Jan. 22, 2018– Three Mexican nationals, a couple – a man and a woman – and another man, were charged with theft when they appeared today before the Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser. They are Jafet Joscan, 26; Belen Hernandez, 26, and Lionel Rodriguez, 31.
Although the trio, according to police, ripped off over $100,000 from the Atlantic Bank countrywide, they were only charged with the theft of small sums at this time.
The incidents for which they were charged, occurred on Friday, January 19. Joscan was charged with theft of $300 from Atlantic Bank in Corozal Town.
Hernandez was charged with the theft of $500 from Atlantic Bank in Orange Walk Town, and Rodriguez was charged with the theft of $200 from Atlantic Bank in Corozal Town.
Their attorney, Kevin Arthurs, argued without success for bail to be offered to them. Chief Magistrate Fraser remanded them into custody until March 21.
As they left the court, they were again detained by the police so that more charges could be brought against them.
Additionally, another man, Belizean national Mike Smith, a deportee, who said that it was he who brought the Mexicans into Belize, was charged with failure to comply with the requirements specified by the Commissioner of Police for his signing-in as a deportee.
The Mexicans were busted withdrawing money from an Atlantic Bank automated teller machine (ATM) in Corozal Town yesterday, Sunday, and they were then taken by police to their apartment in Ladyville, where police found 60 international ATM cards, along with computers used to access the ATMs to steal money from the bank.
They were also found with over $200,000 Mexican pesos.
During a police press brief held at the Racoon Street Police Station this morning, ASP Alejandro Cowo, Commander of Crimes Investigation, said that a total of over $100,000.00 has been stolen by the three Mexicans from Atlantic Bank ATMs in Corozal Town, San Pedro, Ladyville, Belize City, and in San Ignacio and the Corozal Free Zone.
The bank alerted the police and they began to look for the three persons. They found them at the Atlantic Bank in Corozal Town.
Police said that the thieves have been carrying out their operation since November 2017.