BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 22, 2020– Corporal Jason Shaw, 46; Constable Leslie Martinez, 38; and Constable Anthony Villamil, 20, of Precinct 2 of the Police Department in Belize City, were arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on a charge of willful oppression.

They pleaded not guilty and were each offered bail of $1,000 and a surety of the same amount. They were able to meet bail and were ordered to return to court on July 14.

The officers were charged after they coerced a man and a woman to engage in sexual intercourse, which they recorded with the camera of a mobile phone. They then placed the video online, and the video went viral.

The incident occurred at about 6:00 on Sunday morning, April 5, in an abandoned house on Central American Boulevard in Belize City.

Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams announced that the three officers are facing a police tribunal, and they are to submit in writing, reasons why they should not be dismissed from the department.

He is expecting a response by tomorrow, after which a decision will be made, after many factors are taken into consideration. The decision, said Williams, must be fair. While Williams cannot yet indicate whether the officers will remain in the Police Department or be dismissed, there were calls for their dismissal from many organizations.

Feature photo: (L-R) PC Jason Shaw and PC Anthony Villamil