Tomorrow makes exactly one month since 68 year old American tourist John Drest went missing while out on a snorkeling tour at "Shark and Ray Alley" with Discovery Divers. His body has not been recovered but arrests have been made. Today Discovery Expedition boss David Gegg and 40-year-old tour guide Bernard Mortis appeared in Magistrate's Court. Mortis was charged for operating as a tour guide without first obtaining a license and Gegg answered to a charge of employing an unlicensed tour guide.
Both men appeared before Magistrate Harry Hulett today. The charge against Gegg was filed improperly so Hulett threw it out. Mortis meanwhile pleaded guilty to the charge and he was fined $350 plus $5 in court cost. Mortis had to pay one hundred dollars immediately, which he did, and the remainder by the end of January. Mortis was busted after the incident when the police asked to see the licenses for the guides. Mortis license had expired in 2004.
Neither Gegg nor Mortis were actually arrested. Both men were instead served with summons to appear in court today. Drest's family left Belize on December fifth, frustrated that they could not find his body.
