Police today announced that 44-year-old Corozal Free Zone businessman Curtis Arnold has been charged with forcible abduction, rape and threat of death. It allegedly happened over two weeks ago when a 17-year-old girl reported that sometime on the morning of August 7, she was at a beach party in Corozal when she was offered and accepted a ride from Arnold. It is alleged that instead of taking the girl home Arnold took her to his home and raped her.
Seems like a straightforward accusation, but the police say it's not. The girl was reluctant to press charges originally and the later recanted her complaint and that's when head of the National Crimes Investigation Branch James Magdaleno got involved. He today held a press briefing to explain why he traveled to Corozal to sort out the matter and proceed with charges.
James Magdaleno, Chief of National Criminal Investigations Branch
"She reported the matter. Police commenced an investigation. She gave a statement to the police officer. She was taken to the Corozal Town Hospital where a number of tests were taken. In that statement, she gave on the 7th, she requested no court action. On the 15th of August she went back to the Corozal Police Station and requested court action this time concerning the same incident. We recorded a number of statements and because she requested that, I went to Corozal on Monday to look at the file.
As the head of the National Crimes Investigation Branch, it is my duty and it is part of my job description to go anywhere in Belize to look at case files that are of a sensitive nature. I reviewed the file. Certain instructions were given to Mr. Allen to have completed the file. I left Corozal.
I went back to Corozal because of the call that I received that the young lady that made the report now wanted to give her of the story. Remember initially she did not want to say what occurred that morning between the accused. So yesterday I went back to Corozal Town where a statement was recorded from this young lady. After they recorded the statement, the DPP's office was consulted. I spoke to Crown Counsel Miss Henry who gave us certain directives. Hence the reason today Mr. Curtis Arnold, 44 years, businessman of Santa Rita Layout, Corozal Town was today arrested and charged for the following crimes: forcible abduction, rape, and threat of death."
Alfonso Noble,
You said you became personally involved in the case because it is a sensitive nature, could that be because this gentlemen is part of a faction within the free zone that has a lot of action, that they are basically warring with one another within the Free Zone and people within both factions are pulling strings?
James Magdaleno,
"No I did not look at that. I did not know about that. I would not have gotten involved in that. What they have there is their business. We are strictly on the criminal side of it. There is a criminal offense. This man's name was called and that is the reason why I got involved."
Alfonso Noble,
Why is it sensitive?
James Magdaleno,
"In a sense that because of the person involved again and it seems as if though they didn't want to do the proper investigations that needed to have been done. That is the reason why I went there and the girl again didn't want anything initially, so I had to go there and try to talk to this girl to cooperate with the police."
Alfonso Noble,
So the police are not doing their proper investigations in Corozal?
James Magdaleno,
"No I am not saying that. They needed some assistance because Mr. Henderson was not there. As the senior officer he is the person in charge. We have an Inspector there, Mr. Allen, and we felt that he needed some assistance and hence the reason I went to Corozal and assisted them."
After spending last night in police detention, Arnold appeared in court today where he was offered and met bail in the sum of $5,000 plus a surety in the same amount. He is to report to court every Friday and before he leaves the country as well as when he returns. His case was adjourned until October 17th. For context we note that Arnold was recently elected as a director on the board of the Corozal Free Zone, taking the seat previously held by Winston Smiling sympathizers.
