Last year, when the COVID-19 pandemic still had the world in its grip, police and health authorities started to encounter fake immunization cards. These forged documents would allow the holders to be treated as COVID vaccinated persons, even though they didn't get any of the shots.
Well, tonight, reports coming out of the Corozal District are that police charged members of one Mennonite Community for possession of these fake immunization cards. Those defendants allegedly showed up at the Belize Northern Border Station with the counterfeit cards.
The accused are 33-year-old Franz Penner, a businessman from Little Belize; 35-year-old Bernard Schmitt, a farmer from Little Belize; 34-year-old Eva Schmitt, a domestic from Little Belize; 23-year-old Godwin Noh, a driver of Chunox Village; and 24-year-old Emileny Montalvo, a teacher of Chunox Village. They have been arrested and charged with the offense of possession of a false COVID-19 Immunization card.
We are informed that another police officer had to arrest and charge 35-year-old Lyell Banman and 37-year-old Jacob Petkau, two salespeople from Spanish Lookout, for the same fake immunization cards.
Police fear that there could be hundreds - if not thousands - of these in circulation.
