After being arrested and jailed by Washington D.C. police and then let out on bail, a disgraced Belize Solicitor General Elson Kaseke returned to Belize today.
Announcing his return was a glossy release from the Attorney General and Foreign Affairs Ministries which says that Kaseke left Belize on an American Airlines flight Sunday en route to Washington on official government business when he was arrested on a plane. And the release confirms that within 30 minutes prior to arrival at Reagan National Airport, Kaseke got up and attempted to change seats. That is when he was informed that he had committed an offense and he was charged with interfering with the operation of a aircraft.
And from the accused to the victim the release claims Kaseke was forcibly detained by police officers on the ground in Washington who did not read him his rights. Kaseke claims that he was charged with resisting arrest when he asked the reason for arrest. Kaseke hasn't spoken but through the release he also maintains he didn't interfere with the operation of an aircraft or resist lawful arrest. The release says Kaseke will fight the charges however chances are that his attorney will enter a plea for him and Kaseke will pay a fine. As for his claims that his constitutional rights were violated, a U.S. embassy official told 7NEWS that it Is a well known rule and pilots consistently remind passengers that no matter what you do not get up within the last 30 minutes of a flight descending at Reagan National Airport.
Kaseke's saving grace in all this is that while Belize got a black eye, his rap sheet may be saved since he was acting as an agent of the government and people of Belize and if he had an official visa he has immunity. As to the OAS conference, well we missed it.