On November 13th, the news broke that Said Musa would be arrested, quote: “within a few days.” Well those few days have stretched out into a few weeks, but tonight we can confirm that warrants have been written up for the arrest of Said Musa and Ralph Fonseca. But, best information to us suggests that it will not be a “bangles” situation.
Musa is expected to appear in Belmopan Magistrate’s Court at 9:00 tomorrow morning where he will be arraigned on a charge of theft – presumably the theft of $20 million. The matter is indictable so no plea will be taken. “Indictable” means that if it stands – it would be heard in the Supreme Court. But he will not be taken there by police; he is expected to go in his own vehicle and word is that there will be some mass support from Belize City and San Joaquin Village.
But he will not be getting moral or mass support from the institutional PUP. In fact, Party Leader John Briceno is leaving the country tomorrow. He has maintained throughout that his party expects that Mr. Musa will get a fair hearing and repeated that position to us today. Former Budget Minister Ralph Fonseca will also be charged for theft but he is appointed to appear in Belmopan Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Why is the Police and DPP’s Office scheduling it like this? Best information from senior ranks in the police says that the DPP requested that they appear on different days. Information from the DPP’s office says that the Director is scheduling it on different days to avoid confusion of the cases as there are separate pieces of evidence for both accused.
And why Belmopan? Well the DPP’s interpretations seems to be that the seat of government is where public funds are administered from and so that’s where the theft allegedly took place. And information to our office also says that there will be additional charges against both men which will be levied later this month. Those charges may include dereliction of duty.
With that the stage is set and even though anticlimax may have overtaken the long delayed event, tomorrow in Belmopan will be historic: a former Prime Minister will be charged for theft of public funds. 7NEWS will be there and we’ll have all the details and all the images.
