Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BELMOPAN649
2007-11-02 15:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Belmopan
Cable title:  

BELIZEAN GOVERNMENT UNRESPONSIVE IN CRIMINAL CASES

Tags:  PREL ASEC BH 
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VZCZCXYZ0024
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBE #0649 3061518
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021518Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY BELMOPAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0894
INFO RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000649 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

FOR DS/IP/WHA, DS/CIL, WHA/CEN ROIS BEAL

DOJ FOR PATRICE TRAVERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ASEC BH
SUBJECT: BELIZEAN GOVERNMENT UNRESPONSIVE IN CRIMINAL CASES

REF: BELMOPAN 116

UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000649

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

FOR DS/IP/WHA, DS/CIL, WHA/CEN ROIS BEAL

DOJ FOR PATRICE TRAVERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ASEC BH
SUBJECT: BELIZEAN GOVERNMENT UNRESPONSIVE IN CRIMINAL CASES

REF: BELMOPAN 116


1. (U) SUMMARY: While Belizean police have been very cooperative in
returning U.S. fugitives, efforts requiring the cooperation of
higher levels of the Belizean government have repeatedly led to
stonewalls and dead ends. Action on extradition requests has been
slow to come. Cases then languish in the court system. Requests
for the return of stolen cars - a process that had worked well -
have recently been repeatedly ignored. END SUMMARY


2. (U) An extradition request for the three SEAWELL brothers
(REFTEL) took two months to be acted on, by which time the brothers
were in hiding. One was located in Jamaica and arrested in the U.S.
(following his deportation by Jamaica),but only one of the brothers
has been located in Belize. Over the last 10 months, repeated court
appearances and appeals have stalled the case. An appeal to the
Belize Supreme Court last week was delayed yet again; this time the
judge was absent. The Supreme Court hearing has been delayed
indefinitely.


3. (U) A diplomatic note and extradition request for Matthew
ANDERSON was delivered October 5, 2007; there has yet to be any
response. Police are ready to apprehend ANDERSON, but are waiting
for authorization.


4. (SBU) Finally, the return of stolen cars had been an almost
routine process until a change of the Solicitor General. The
SolGen, who is required to authorize the return of the vehicles, has
in recent months ignored repeated requests from the Embassy. (The
current Solicitor General was reported to have been driving one of
the stolen vehicles until it was identified as stolen from the U.S.)
Over the last twelve months, one official memorandum and five
diplomatic notes have met with no official response. Informally, we
have been told by MFA that justice system officials have been slow
to do their part to approve a response.


5. (U) POC for this cable is RSO Patrick Harms at 011-501-822-4011,
ext. 4007.

DIETER