Former UB Student Government President Moses Sulph has been vindicated. The always outspoken Sulph had been charged for leading the protest on Wednesday April 20th of 2005 which began with students on Princess Margaret Drive, developed into a bonfire on Belcan Bridge, and ended in mass looting and chaos in downtown Belize City.
Shortly after, Sulph was charged for damage to property for allegedly hurling a stone at a police car issued to Superintendent Edward Broaster. He was also charged for leading an illegal protest and trespassing. Today was decision day for Sulph and he walked out of the Magistrate's Courtroom a free man. Here's the story.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This is student activist Moses Sulph along with his attorney surrendering to police at the Queen's Street station on April 22nd of 2005. Sulph was wanted for leading an illegal student protest and for damaging a police vehicle. From the police station he was taken to the Magistrate's Court where he was arraigned on six charges. Sulph emerged from his arraignment to a hero's welcome as the crowd hoisted him and held a mini protest up Bishop Street.
That was in the hot and heady days of 2005, and while the swell of public protest has subsided, the charge against him stood. Or at least it did until today when it collapsed at a Magistrate's Court trial. Michael Peyrefitte is his attorney.
Michael Peyrefitte, Sulph's Attorney
"The prosecution closed its case today and the difficulty the Magistrate had with the case presented so far was that on a submission I made that there was no proof of any damage, the court accepted that the prosecution had failed to establish first of all that there was a damage to the property itself. Before you can charge and convict someone for damage to property you have to show first that there was damage and then secondly that this is the person who caused that damage illegally."
For Moses Sulph, today was vindication day. He says he did nothing wrong; all he did was stand up for his rights.
Moses Sulph,
"The Almighty know I didn't committed the act that I was accused of on the BTL property therefore in the end truth prevailed."
Keith Swift,
You think you did anything wrong that day?
Moses Sulph,
"No. I don't think I did anything wrong. I know myself, I didn't throw any stone like I was accused of, I didn't throw any stone and break anyone's windshield so therefore I did nothing wrong that day. All I went out there was to go support the people at BTL which I believe is any Belizean's right to do."
Keith Swift,
If you didn't do it, why were you charged?
Moses Sulph,
"Because basically they accused me of it because that is a way the oppressors will try to throw things at you in order to stop you from what you want to do as activist."
But it didn't work and Sulph says it won't work. He puts it simply: the move to put him in jail has made him stronger and there is no stopping him now.
Moses Sulph,
"I can say that I am a born activist and nothing that they do to me or try to do will ever stop me from standing up for justice. I'll continue fighting for the people of Belize and the young people of this country and I will continue standing up for justice."
The damage to property charge was thrown out today. The other counts of trespassing and leading an illegal protest were withdrawn previously. Sulph was defended free of cost by attorney Michael Peyrefitte. He is yet to decide if he will sue government for what he calls "malicious prosecution." It is of note that today's was former Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord's last day and this morning's decision was one of his last.
