Tonight, 2 employees from Joseph Freight Limited, a delivery company from Santa Elena Town in Cayo, are facing court fines for making a false police report. They lied to the cops and claimed that they were robbed of the proceeds of their company's business.
They are 22-year-old, Mark Anthony Umana, a delivery man from Santa Elena Town, and his 31-year-old side-man, Esvin Vernon. They told police that last Friday, at around 2 p.m., they were making a delivery on Curl Thompson Street in Belize City. They claimed that while conducting company business, they were attacked by 3 men who stole over 2 thousand dollars cash, which belonged to their boss at the company.
Of course, the officers looked into their story, and they visited the store where this robbery supposedly occurred. They spoke with the female shopkeeper, who told them that no such crime happened on their premises and that it was a normal business day.
The cops then obtained video surveillance footage of the area, which confirmed that no crime happened, and that's when the complainants were confronted. They later confessed to giving a false report and apologized to the police for their actions. They then took the officers to the delivery van, which was parked at the Racoon Street Police Station. That's where it was impounded as evidence in the alleged robbery. The men then handed over a waist bag, which was being hidden at the back of the van. That bag contained $2,950 in cash.
Today, Assistant Superintended Fitzroy Yearwood briefly discussed this case:
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Officer
"We had a report by one Esvin Vernon and Mark Anthony Umana, while they claim that they were robbed while making a report in Belize City, our investigators did their proper investigation and due diligence and these men have since been charged for a mischievous act because the robbery didn't actually occur. We sent out a release on Friday where we were asking the general public if they had any knowledge and the owners of these cargo trucks to ask them to seek police assistance when making deliveries and collecting money in the city. And a few hours later, around 2:30, these two found it fit to make a false report and have since been charged."
Jules Vasquez
"So, who ended up with the proceeds of the theft?"
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood
"From the moment my officers had enough evidence to charge these two; the actual cash was not missing. It's a false report."
Jules Vasquez
"Usually when one makes a false report, so that it can be a diversion."
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood
"We all know that if the police officers didn't do proper investigation they would have been the beneficiaries of the crime."
Jules Vasquez
"Smart, but not that smart."
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood
"And we are taking these reports very seriously. We sent out a general appeal for these cargo truck operators. We know that everybody expects their little barrel and box from the States and we saw an increase in it, now these 2 took the opportunity to try to mislead us and we have to make them pay for what they are doing."
They were arraigned before Magistrate Khiana Gordon on a single charge of a mischievous act. The presiding magistrate ordered them to pay a fine of 150 dollars each by May 31, 2022. If they default in payment, they will serve 6 months in prison.
