Yesterday, we told you about two major busts that the Fisheries Department, along with the Belize Coast Guard, made at both Lighthouse Reef and Glover's Reef. All five fishermen found themselves in court today. And tonight one of them is facing fines of OVER 150 thousand dollars!
We begin with the men caught out near Hat Caye, along the Lighthouse Reef. 38-year-old Leroy Samuel Ruiz, 26-year-old Denielle Anselmo Solis, and 28-year-old Wilbert Omar Rivas, were arraigned today in Belize City Magistrate's Court where they were read five fisheries offenses jointly.
The charges are: one count of possession of fillet Nassau Grouper, one count of possession of fillet fish without skin patch, and three counts of possession of prohibited fish - which included 12 angelfish, 12 triggerfish, and 76 parrot fish.
Ruiz pleaded guilty to all five offenses, telling the court that he knew what he was doing was wrong, but that he was desperate to pay off his children's outstanding school fees.
The magistrate took into consideration that this is Ruiz's first conviction and imposed five $10,000 fines for each offense, with five $5 cost of court fines, which totaled $50,050. But that's not all. He was given a fine of $100 for the two grouper fillet, a $3,400 fine for the 68 fish fillets without patch, $24,000 for the angel and trigger fish, and a whopping $76,000 for the parrot fish. Combined, the fines added up to $153,525.
The Magistrate has ordered that the fines be paid between the period of September 30 and December 31. In default of fines, Ruiz will be faced with 9 months imprisonment, and as it relates to the penalties, distress - which means that if Ruiz cannot pay the fines, the authorities will go to his home and take any items of value and sell them.
In light of Ruiz's guilty plea, the prosecutor, Calman Hall, withdrew the charges against Solis and Rivas and they were free to go.
