On Friday, we told you about a serious security scare after an item that looks like an improvised explosive device was being sent in a postal package from Belize to Spain. But the package had a Belize return address and police worked quickly to find out who was sending it. The address did lead to a Belize City woman who is from the Czech Republic in eastern Europe but is now naturalized after a marrying a Belizean.
She told police she wasn’t the one who sent it, and pointed them to two men, also from the Czech Republic, who sent it using her name. After 6:00, police went to their apartments where one of the men, who is a mechanic, explained that the device which looks like a pipe bomb is used to enhance an engine’s fuel efficiency, and he also showed them a similar device in his car.
End of story right? Not quite, police concluded that there’s something suspect about the Czech Republicans. But the most they could find were immigration offences. They have been identified 43 year old Tomas Kahan, and 33 year old Marek Bilik. Kahan was charged for staying beyond the time granted on his visitor’s permit – which expired a few days ago. In court #4 in front of Magistrate Aretha Ford, he pleaded guilty. The court ordered that he be removed immediately from the country. That removal order is expected to be executed with 4-7 days.
In court when Kahan pleaded guilty to the offense, he told the Magistrate that he is sorry, but he was only sending the 4 pieces of items for a generator in Europe. “They were not active,” he added. His friend Marek Bilik did not face charges because his passport bore a valid temporary employment permit issued by the Immigration and Nationality Services office in Belize City.
We also understand that Kahan could face criminal charges because he is wanted in the Czech Republic under the title Nespor. The police CIB headquarters are still looking into the items which they say include 4 Nescafe coffee jars with silver wire inside them. Police have all but concluded that they are not explosives.
