BELIZE: THREE AMCITS ACQUITTED OF TRAFFICKING

UNCLAS BELIZE 000117

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - JASON MACK
DEPT FOR WHA/PPC - MICHAEL PUCCETTI
DEPT FOR INL/GTIP - LINDA BROWN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KWMN SOCI PGOV PREL PINR BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE: THREE AMCITS ACQUITTED OF TRAFFICKING

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SUMMARY
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1. (U) In October 2003, in the remote southern Belize town
of Punta Gorda, three American citizens were charged with
unlawful carnal knowledge and trafficking-in-persons. After
over three years of postponed trials the Director of Public
Prosecutions (DPP) dropped the cases against all three. One
of the defendants has filed a malicious prosecution case
against the Government of Belize (GOB).

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A LONG STORY
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2. (SBU) In October 2003 three American Citizens were
charged with various crimes, most notably for unlawful
carnal knowledge, of several children, and trafficking in
persons. After 48 hours of incarceration they had not been
charged by police and were released; however, Punta Gorda
police retained their passports while continuing their
investigation. Separately, the trio fled Belize and since
2003, the three - Harvey Lee Jones, Amos Capps and Dennis
Bruce - would sporadically call the consular section
inquiring about their cases. Each had stressed his
innocence and desire to come back to Belize to face the
charges at trial and clear their names.


3. (U) In a recent press interview, Jones relayed that even
though he was not identified by any of the children, he
could understand how Capps and Bruce may have demonstrated
"suspicious behavior" to police saying, "they (Bruce and
Capps) spent a lot of time around children." Jones had also
revealed that in 2003 after he was released by police, who
had retained his passport, he had to "flee" back to the U.S.
for work reasons.

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TURNED TABLES
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4. (U) Jones, a research biologist who authored the book
"Birds of Belize" published by Houston University Press, has
filed a civil suit for "malicious prosecution" and
"financial loss" against the GOB naming lead investigator
Police Inspector Cardinal Smith as the focal point. In a
recent press interview Jones went further to say that
"(police) cannot continue to run roughshod over the citizens
of Belize. They (police) go around and they threaten,
intimidate, and rape women and children, false charges,
aggressively pursuing people that are innocent, that they
know are innocent."


5. (SBU) Jones has retained the services of local attorney
Michael Peyrefitte, an influential weekly columnist in the
political opposition, El Guardian, newspaper.


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