Belmopan, Belize 4 December - (Belizean.com) The former Prime Minister of Belize Rt. Hon. Said Musa was today charged with theft in what is widely regarded as a politically inspired witch hunt by the governing United Democratic Party government. The charge against Mr. Musa arises out of a decision taken last year when his government decided to re-allocate a grant of US$10 million from Venezuela, to settle a loan guaranteed by government to a tertiary care hospital Universal Health Services. The funds were transferred to the Belize Bank to pay off the debt.
The former Prime Minister reported to the Belmopan Police station this morning flanked by a crowd of about 500 supporters. After being handed a charge sheet, he was escorted by some 25 police officers to the low court to be read a single charge of theft of $10 million. He was released on bail of $200,000.
On leaving the courtroom, Mr. Musa made a statement to the press: ""I am innocent of this charge and of any charges that they threaten to bring against me. I acted in good faith always when I secured the grants from Venezuela for the benefit of the Belizean people. What we have here happening is this government, this regime is trying to harass me, trying to shame me, but in fact they are shaming themselves because they are dragging our country, Belize, down to the level of a failed state where a rogue totalitarian regime is subverting the justice system, controlling the justice system, and using it and instructing people to use it to persecute and to jail their political opponents."
For several weeks the government controlled newspaper the El Guardian has been threatening to have the former Prime Minister and other members of his Cabinet jailed and today's event appears to be a culmination of those threats. A member of Mr. Musa's legal defence team attorney-at-law Anthony Sylvestre alluded to this today: "The information of the imminent charge did appear on the front page of the government's newspaper so that I think speaks volumes and I will leave it at that."
On leaving court this morning the Rt. Hon. Said Musa was greeted by hundreds of supporters. Picture shows Mr. Musa being hoisted aloft by Peoples United Party supporters.
For several weeks the government controlled newspaper the El Guardian has been threatening to have the former Prime Minister and other members of his Cabinet jailed and today's event appears to be a culmination of those threats. A member of Mr. Musa's legal defence team attorney-at-law Anthony Sylvestre alluded to this today: "The information of the imminent charge did appear on the front page of the government's newspaper so that I think speaks volumes and I will leave it at that."
On leaving court this morning the Rt. Hon. Said Musa was greeted by hundreds of supporters. Picture shows Mr. Musa being hoisted aloft by Peoples United Party supporters.
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