Tonight, former Benque Mayor, Said Badi Guerra, remains free on bail after he was charged with sexual assault for an incident involving a male minor. He was arraigned yesterday in Benque where he ultimately met bail of $10,000.
But the family of the victim is dismayed that he was even offered bail. The minor says that he's left scared and traumatized. He's also concerned about when he has to go back to school, since Guerra is his instructor.
Yesterday our news team was on the ground in Benque - and most of the interviews came in shortly before news time. Tonight, Courtney Menzies has put the full story together:
This is the moment Said Badi Guerra left the courtroom after he was arraigned on four counts of sexual assault, one count of harm, and one count of procuring defilement by threats. He was held overnight pending those charges.
He was then escorted to the Benque police station where he waited approximately 3 and a half hours before he was bailed out. And while most may shy away from the cameras, Guerra was quick to declare his innocence.
Said Badi Guerra, Charged For Sexual Assault:
"I will not and I must tell you I will not get into details because as you know this is an ongoing process. They're doing their investigation and I would not want to compromise police's investigation into the matter. One thing I must do make mention is I'm being wrongly accused of rape. It is not rape and I would like, um, whosoever, put it up on the media to remove that term because it is not rape."
"This community knows me, Belize knows me. This community knows me because I've worked with young people, with children and young people over the years. Since I was very young, I actually was the youth president for the youth council of Cayo West at some point in time. So I've always worked with young people and children and it's the first time that this allegations pop up."
And this allegation was made by one of Guerra's 16 year old students. The victim - whose voice we distorted to protect his identity - claims that on the evening of July 14th Guerra gave him alcohol at a restaurant and then took him back to Benque where he assaulted the minor.
The minor later escaped the home with bruises, cuts, and other marks on his body. He explained that the main reason he is speaking up is because he's afraid since he knows Guerra is out on bail.
Voice of Minor/Victim:
"I am not feeling so well. I am not happy with what happened this morning because they gave Mr. Guerra bail, so I ask for justice and I demand for justice and I also want all the teenagers to stand up and let all of the teenagers' voices get heard so I would like for there to be some justice and like I said I am not happy with what happened this morning. I find it so unfair because for all he did to me, at no moment I gave him consent and he just took action over me and I feel violated, I am also scared, traumatized and I feel very nervous and I really want to go back to school but with all that has happened I feel very insecure. What if I go back to school and he is there since he is one of my lecturers and if I go back to high school and I see him there I will get flashbacks and that will just affect me mentally."
"And for me to go back to school, it's not that easy but I'm trying to be strong because I really want to go back to school since it's my last year."
Voice of Uncle of Minor:
"He is not well, he works with me but due to the fact that he has gone through all of this, he is afraid of going to work because just the other day, he arrived at our work, and for what?"
"We're hiding him. He is mentally distressed, he's going through depression and he still wants to go to school."
"I will say this direct, it's very sick for a judge to provide bail to certain persons. It's sick and it's very downgrading for any lawyer in Belize that tries to fight for him, tries to prove his innocence. It just means that our system is corrupt."
Courtney Menzies:
"One of the reasons he got bail is because he was charged with sexual assault and not rape. Do you believe he should have been charged for rape?"
Voice of Uncle of Minor:
"Yes he should."
But for now, Guerra is free to go home until his next court date. However, in the court of public opinion, he's already been condemned. And he's telling those persons to ask themselves: WWJD?
Said Badi Guerra, Charged For Sexual Assault:
"I would like to uh call on our community, our society to please be a bit more compassionate. I'm not talking about me, I'm not talking about myself, I'm talking about every time there is an incident that some people happen to do things. The society immediately jumps up, condemns, crucifies when it's only an allegation."
"But if you go on the media, my gosh, people have crucified me, people have buried me, some want me to rise again, to be buried again."
"I turn to you all, please be more compassionate, be more Christ like. Don't take the position of God. I will ask you all and I will leave you all with this to reflect, society, what would Jesus do?"
And while that's what Guerra is asking for, the minor is not only hoping for justice, but for help from organizations that were established for the protection of children.
Voice of Minor/Victim:
"With this that happened, where's the support for all the teenagers? Like our teenagers' voices don't get heard. Many times cases pop up, they don't really do anything for the teenagers and I'm not really satisfied with what they did because they did not take him to prison since he is out there. I feel really insecure because what if he goes back and tries to do the same or even worse."
Courtney Menzies:
"Are you concerned because he is a well connected individual in your community?"
Voice of Minor/Victim:
"No I'm not."
During the incident, the minor's teeth were damaged, and he is also asking for assistance to get them fixed, since he said he is in pain. The family can be reached at phone number 603-6800.
When we reached out to the DPP regarding the choice of charges brought, she stated, quote, "The Crown Counsel who advised on the charge is of the view that the evidence disclosed the commission of that offence. The charge will be revisited at the conclusion of the investigation." End quote.
We also reached out to the principal of the school where Guerra was teaching, but she is currently out of the country.
