In court in front of the magistrate, Tapia was charged with one count of rape, one count of forcible abduction and one count of taking a vehicle without permission.
The victim, a 32-year-old naturalized Belizean, told police that on Sunday, January 29, sometime around 3:00 a.m., she was entering her parked Mitsubishi van when she was approached by Corporal Tapia, who forced her into her vehicle.
He drove her to an isolated area in the Finca Solana section of Corozal Town, where the officer raped her, the victim further alleges.
The Commissioner of Police, Gerald Westby, told Amandala today that he could not comment because the case is under investigation, but in a police report dated Wednesday, February 1, said that he would maintain his strict policy of ?zero tolerance? regarding wrongdoing on the part of his officers.
Corporal Tapia has been interdicted from active duty, pending the outcome of his trial. He was off duty and not in his uniform when he allegedly committed the crime.
A reliable source alleged that there was no relationship between the policeman and his victim, and that they did not know each other.
Tapia was offered bail of $5,000 on each count, plus one surety of $5,000 or two sureties of $2,500 each, which he met. His case was adjourned for March 16.
The last case of rape involving a police officer was in September 2005, when Sergeant Leslie Wade was charged in the Belmopan Magistrate?s Court with the rape of a 29-year-old female police constable.
His arrest came three days after police constable Crispin Jeffries, Jr., 31, was convicted of rape in the Supreme Court.
(Ed. NOTE: Police press officer G. Michael Reid refused to provide a photograph of the accused policeman, saying that he could not do so because of ?legal considerations.? There were never any ?legal considerations? mentioned in the past, however, in providing photos of non-policemen accused of rape and other serious crimes.
Amandala has complained to Commissioner of Police Gerald Westby about Reid?s double-standard in attempting to shield members of the Police Department from the media. Where we are concerned, a charge of rape should be handled by him the same whether the person is a policeman or an ordinary member of the public.)