We have heard before of a soldier, or a policeman, sleeping on the job, but three of them, all together?
The Belize Defence Force only just last week confirmed the recovery of an M4 carbine stolen from its guard room at Price Barracks in January, and now, someone has stolen yet another “big gun” from the BDF, early Saturday morning from a soldier who was literally “sleeping on the job.”
Police report that two soldiers and a police constable were detailed to patrol the Rocky Road area of Belize City, in the Queen’s Square division, between 1:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. (The constable was not identified by police and today the BDF declined to name the soldiers, citing their own ongoing investigations.)
The three officers traveled to the area in a white two-door Subaru car, owned by the constable. After parking next to a bridge on West Canal, the officers went to sleep.
Upon waking up, the younger soldier noticed that his M-16 rifle, loaded with 30 live rounds of 5.56 ammunition, was missing. An immediate search of the area failed to turn up the weapon.
Late this evening, Amandala spoke with Major Alvin Amoa, BDF Force adjutant, at Price Barracks in Ladyville, who told us that the case is “very serious;” so much so that the soldiers — one with only a few months on the job and the other with four years experience — may face dismissal from the Force, must pay back for the lost weapon, and can be imprisoned by the BDF or even at Kolbe Foundation in Hattieville, depending on the outcome of the proceedings – and that is only on their disciplinary charges.
The BDF has completed an internal investigation and the two officers today appeared before their commanding officer, and then their battalion commander in the first two steps of the BDF’s disciplinary process. The next step is an appearance before BDF Commander Brigadier General Dario Tapia on Tuesday.
The younger of the two soldiers, whose weapon was lost, is charged with “loss of equipment on duty,” while his fellow soldier faces a charge of “breach of standing orders,” specifically with regard to patrol duties.
Brigadier General Tapia may hear the evidence from the case perhaps as early as tomorrow, as soon as results of test samples for alcohol and drugs are received, according to Major Amoa. Additional internal charges are pending depending on the results of the tests.
Alternatively, the General can call a court-martial to try the soldiers. The court-martial can recommend military detention of the soldiers for an unspecified period in addition to other penalties.
Both soldiers have claimed they were not under the influence of alcohol when they and the constable parked their vehicle on West Canal Saturday. During their siesta, the M-16 rifle was apparently stolen from the vehicle through its partially open passenger-side window. The older private was in the back seat, but the M-16 he carried was not stolen.
The loss of a weapon in such circumstances is a first for the BDF, and Major Amoa told us that supervision of patrols has been strengthened. Previously, supervisors would go out on the tour two or three times to assess the soldiers, and they were expected to radio back to Control to inform their supervisors of their movements. The supervisors will now go out more often on the beat, but they cannot be there 24 hours a day, the Major admitted.
The Security Services Commission has the final say on whether to dismiss the soldiers or assess relevant penalties, upon a recommendation from General Tapia. While they are not yet facing criminal charges in the police investigation, if the Commission decides they are culpable, they may face two years imprisonment at Hattieville on the disciplinary charges.
The soldiers can appeal the Commission’s decision through what is known as a “redress of complaint,” in which the soldiers may write the Commission outlining their grievances.
According to Major Amoa, the BDF intends to try the case without prejudice to the accused, and wishes to make it clear that the penalties assessed, if any, will fit the severity of the crime, so that while the offence is very serious, the soldiers will not be “made an example of” for their fellows, lest the Force be accused of heavy-handedness. But neither does that mean they will get off lightly.
As for the “sleeping policeman,” press officer Clement Palacio could not confirm at press time if he has been interdicted or otherwise disciplined, but the Internal Affairs office of the Department is “intensively investigating” his role in the incident.