It's sad but true that for some police officers who work checkpoints, the job is like an ATM machine - where the few bad eggs hustle drivers for cash rather than issue tickets.
But, a Ladyville policeman was caught - so to speak - with his hands in the cookie jar when he was busted in an extortion sting.
This afternoon, police constable #1124, Amir Moh, an officer attached to the Ladyille Police Station, was arraigned on a single charge of extortion.
According to the police press office, 48 year-old Alexander Tate, a medical technician of 18 miles on the Western Highway, made a report that at around 10:30 a.m. yesterday, he was being towed in his silver Toyota Tercel from Belize City to Lords Bank.
According to Tate, when he arrived at mile 8 on the Northern Highway, he was stopped by PC Amir Moh who informed him about a traffic violation he had committed for his vehicle's insurance.
Tate alleged that Moh told him that if he pays him a bribe, he will not have to face criminal charges for the violation. Tate said that he told Moh that he would pay the money, but after he returns from Lords Bank. Tate then left and recorded the serial numbers on 7 ten dollar bills, and he returned.
Tate said that he handed over the money and left, and immediately after that, he went to make a police report. In the report, Tate furnished the police with the serial numbers on the bills that he had handed over.
The police immediately launched an investigation, and located Moh at the very same checkpoint described by Tate. They searched him and found the 7 ten-dollar bills with the exact serial numbers that Tate had provided to them.
As a result, he was arrested and charged with extortion.
Moh was unrepresented when he stood before the Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail of $1,000 plus 1 surety. His bail came with the condition that he must report to the Orange Walk Police Station every Friday until this case is finished between the hours of 7a.m. and 7p.m. Additionally, he must stay away from Alexander Tate, and if he violates any of the conditions, bail will be confiscated.
He is to return to court on February 23, 2012.
