The airline?s flight crew reported that when Kaseke was asked to remain in his seat, he refused to comply with their request. Their report also stated that Kaseke had been consuming alcohol on the flight, but airline officials would not comment on the estimated quantity of alcohol Kaseke consumed.

After Kaseke refused to comply with the crew?s request, two security officials on board the aircraft brought him under control.

According to an official from the US Embassy in Belize, federal regulations require that all passengers remain seated for the initial and final thirty minutes of the aircraft?s ascent and descent at RNA, in Virginia.

The official said that the US Department of Homeland Security implemented this regulation following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, because of the airport?s close proximity to the White House.

Even though Kaseke?s behaviour was cause for alarm, the aircraft was able to make its landing as scheduled at RNA.

When Kaseke disembarked the aircraft in Virginia, federal officials detained him and held him in custody for nearly 36 hours.

During his detention, the Belize Embassy in Washington acquired the services of a Virginia attorney, Jonathon Shapiro, to represent him.

Kaseke appeared in a United States court on Tuesday, July 27, and was charged with the misdemeanours of ?interfering with the operation of an aircraft? and ?resisting arrest.?

He was awarded bail of $5,000US and returned to Belize on Wednesday on an American Airline flight from Miami. Kaseke is said to be in touch with his lawyer in Virginia, and a Government source in Belize told Amandala that Kaseke is expected to absorb the cost of his legal proceedings.

Amandala has confirmed that Kaseke was travelling with an official government passport, which is usually given to Chief Executive Officers in government ministries, and senior government officials who frequently travel on government business.

The official in the US Embassy in Belize said that they are not presently considering the status of Kaseke?s visa, but are not ruling out any possibilities until the outcome of the court case is known.

If Kaseke is convicted of the charges, the official said that the Embassy would then consider the severity of the conviction before making a decision on the status of his visa.

Also, the president of the Bar Association, Christopher Coye, told Amandala that they are not considering reprimanding Kaseke for his arrest, and in any case, can only act in the event that a complaint is filed with the General Legal Council, the legal disciplinary arm of the Bar Association.

Coye confirmed that any aggrieved party could file a complaint against a member of the Bar, of which Kaseke is a member.

While the government?s press release was vague on the circumstances surrounding Kaseke?s detention, an official government spokesperson told Amandala today that ?a full investigation is currently ongoing, and any disciplinary actions to be taken will be decided after the facts have been ascertained.?

The Solicitor General and a senior Crown Counsel were en route to Washington to represent Belize at an Organisation of American States (OAS) conference on the American Convention on Corruption.