BELIZE CITY, Fri. Nov. 12, 2021 — Today, the eleven persons (four police officers and seven civilians) arrested for being complicit in the landing and unloading of a drug plane in Bladen Village, Toledo, on Thursday night, November 4, were arraigned along with two others before Justice Antoinette Moore for a bail hearing which did not take place.

While the judge, the detained persons and their attorney were in the courtroom, a written document from the Director of Public Prosecution’s (DPP) office was delivered. In the document, the DPP officially recused herself from prosecution of the case, noting that an officer assigned to her office was one of the suspects detained for the incident.

Instead, a prosecutor from the Police Department was assigned to this high-profile case, but that police prosecutor requested two weeks to prepare and to submit a document outlining an objection to the granting of bail to the accused persons. Justice Antoinette Moore therefore set November 23 as the day for written submissions and responses to be heard. The rescheduling of the proceedings angered attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley, who is representing Sergeant George Ferguson, Corporal Elmer Nah, Corporal Delwin Casimiro, PC Nelson Middleton and Epifania Caliz (wife of Corporal Nah). He criticized the lack of preparedness of the police prosecutor: “She came with an excuse that she needed 2 weeks to prepare and submit a document that she was objecting to the bail application. Can you imagine that? Want to keep them locked up for a year or two,” he remarked to local reporters.

Additionally, while he commended the DPP’s decision to recuse herself from the case, he expressed dissatisfaction with the person selected to prosecute the case on behalf of the Police Department. He said that the lawyers are “not happy” with that person and described the individual as “not suitable… not mature enough”.

Bradley also objected to the charges that were levied against one of his clients, Epifana Caliz. Bradley claims it is an injustice for Caliz, the wife of an officer assigned to an elite group of police officers, to be charged for her husband’s alleged possession of military equipment and ammunition. Corporal Elmer Nah, Caliz’s husband, is said to have been in possession of a bulletproof vest, a firearm, and ammunition when found in a car in which Caliz was an occupant.

Bradley pointed out that Caliz does not own the vehicle in which the ammunition was found and was merely a passenger. Her husband, Corporal Nah claimed ownership of those items. He nonetheless pleaded not guilty to the crime of illegally having ammunition without a license. Bradley said that he would be imprisoned if he pleaded guilty.

Bradley further argued that all his clients are being unfairly charged and treated. They were indicted for crimes associated with drug possession, but he pointed out that none of his clients were actually found with drugs. He further alleged that some of the detainees were even beaten.