A drug plane landed in Belize early on Independence Day and - while the illicit cargo is still unaccounted for - police arrested two men near the scene - and are hoping to pin then with charges relating to the landing.
The first to go to court today was well known Orange Walk auctioneer - Noel Codd. He owns the farm where the drug plane landed and police found him in the area not long after. The Commissioner of police said they intended to charge him for facilitating the landing of a plane on an unregistered aerodrome - but today the charge was very different when we went to the Orange Walk Courthouse. Here's the story:
This afternoon at 2:30 businessman Noel Codd was escorted out of the Orange Walk Police station. He was in cuffs, but relaxed and well put together - his attorney patted him on the shoulder. He didn't look at all like a man who had been in custody since the early morning of the 21st as he shot the press a confident thumbs up.
As he went into court charged for possession of a single round of prohibited ammunition.
Dickie Bradley, Codd Attorney
"It's a chance, they di chance noel Codd. The police have been doing their investigations and suddenly they found one round they claimed of ammunition the caliber which falls under the firearms act as a prohibited ammunition. That is the charge two and a half days later. It's just a charge to hold on to him, to sweat him. That's what they are doing."
They allegedly found the prohibited round on Codd's 262 acre farm in the London Area of the Orange Walk District where this drug plane landed.
Police say they found Codd and a mennonite associate in the area after 2:00 in the morning. Police say they colluded to facilitate the drug plane landing. Now, Bradley says his client is actually the victim as attested to in his statements from his four farm workers which paint a very different picture:
Dickie Bradley, Codd Attorney
"They have written statements that persons who were dressed in military camouflage with large guns who put all of them under manners and waited until something happened with the plane down the road. They were allowed to eat and drink and shut their mouths and don't watch anything and those people had those types of weapons, so how can you charge Noel Codd for that, for people coming into his yard against his wishes."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Let's say it's the cartel, it seems a fantastical story. If it's the cartel..."
Dickie Bradley, Codd Attorney
"Well, if its fantastical why have they been released, they obviously believe them, otherwise charge them too."
One man who may or may not be charged is bulldozer operator Isaac Petka - he was detained along with Codd - and hAs since implicated him in an ill gotten statement - according to his attorney:
Marcel Cardona, Attorney for Petka
"My client has informed me that when I was searching all around and I was being informed that he is here and he is there and he is all around the station, he had already been whistled off to Corozal to prevent him from being able to have access to his attorney. He was further more promised, taken to Corozal under the promise that if he gives a statement to the police containing certain information that he would be released free of charges and that his bulldozer which represents his life savings would be returned to him and it would not be confiscated as the police had threatened him."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Did he accept?"
Marcel Cardona, Attorney for Petka
"Yes, unfortunately in the absence of legal representation, in the absence of his attorney he caved in to pressure from the police and he gave them the so called statement that they were looking for."
Dickie Bradley, Codd Attorney
"As we appeared at the door and he saw his lawyer, he repudiated what he had sign. He is the maker of the statement. He said your honor, the only reason I signed that is they promise me I will not be charged and they will return my heavy equipment to me. Even me who knows better would have signed."
And while the statement will be challenged - police will also challenge based on the circumstances of the arrest:
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Both your clients according to the commissioner of police who you said is to be believed were caught at early hours of the morning near the property where the plane landed and it is highly suspicious for 2 two persons to be out."
Dickie Bradley, Codd Attorney
"No, let's kill that right now. Mr. Codd lives there, that is his house. There were a lot of commotion, I think gunshots and all kinds of things happening, he is leaving his house to come and tell the police."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"He could have call the police."
Dickie Bradley, Codd Attorney
"You know the service. Have you tried to call 911 - always busy and nobody answers. Why would he want to stay in a dangerous situation like that. You want to tell me you can convict someone because of leaving his house at night. Is that what you are saying to me?"
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"I'm saying it's suspicious."
Dickie Bradley, Codd Attorney
"Everything is suspicious, why take a man to Corozal? Isn't that suspicious? What is he doing in Corozal. Call that highly suspicious too. You think they did this to someone else, you know that person is a dead person. You know you trick someone to give statement against someone else, he is marked for death. He is a dead man walking. Be careful what they are doing man, those things have consequences."
As you saw, Bradley's arguments for the court of public opinion were passionate and just so in court where he convinced magistrate Merlene Moody to use the discretion granted her under the law and grant Codd bail. He was released on $5,000 dollars bail and will re-appear on October 27th.
