Rene Montero is a fugitive no more. The Former UDP Minister has returned to the country to the - three months after an Interpol Red Notice was issued for his arrest.
He faces a charge made out in September of 2021 of "willful oppression contrary to the Criminal Code", for the alleged use of public property for private and personal gain while he was Minister of Works. The warrant states that Montero exercised "willful abuse of their authority which caused injury to the public" between 2016 and 2020.
In the law book, the offence states specifically "A public officer...is guilty of wilful oppression...if he wilfully commits any excess or abuse of his authority to the injury of the public or of any person."
He was arraigned in Belmopan Magistrate's Court this afternoon - one on a very short list of former elected officials who have been criminally charged.
But, the charge is a minor one - it carries a maximum two year jail term for those convicted - and we don't know of anyone who has ever been convicted.
This morning, before Montero turned himself in - we discussed it with the Commissioner of Police - who said he got a call from the former Minister's Attorney
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Just yesterday I was contacted by the attorneys for Mr. Montero and I was told that he is on his way to Belize and as soon as he arrives in Belize, he will be taken in to us by the attorneys so that we can proceed with the matter against him."
Reporter
"That being the case the charge that the police have to levy against him, I was told by a seasoned attorney leaves a lot to be desired. That charge will never stand up in court, because it's a charge that levy against a former public officer, not a former minister."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Um, I have read the piece of law in the criminal code that the DPP had directed that Mr. Montero be charged under. I am not a seasoned attorney, but you know sometimes seasoned chicken spoil, so not everything that is seasoned are good, right. And from my understanding of the law the charge is appropriate and we are going to see what happens in the court. It's not a matter for us to decide the guilt or innocence of Mr. Montero, it is a matter for the court and so the seasoned attorney, if he is the one who is going to represent Mr. Montero will have his day in court to demonstrate to the court why he believes the charges should not stick and the DPP who is going to prosecute the matter will have her day to say why the charges are appropriate and why they should stick. So, its matter for that."
Montero was represented by Dickie Bradley and received bail of $20 thousand dollars - on the condition that he signs in every Friday, and surrenders his passport. The matter is adjourned until 24th October.
In this footage from PLUS TV he is seen leaving court on his own.
Reports to our newsroom are that Montero returned to the country through the Phillip Goldson airport on Sunday at 5:00 pm.
