CLARIFICATION ON REPORTS IN MONDAYS NEWSCAST RELATED TO THE ARREST AND CHARGE OF GIOVANNI LAURIANO

The Belize Police Department wishes to clarify statements aired on Monday night in the newscast in respect to Giovanni Lauriano. On Monday January 25, 2010 he was arraigned in Court #5 where the following charges were levied: “KEPT UNLICENSED FIREARM WITHOUT A GUN LICENSE”, “KEPT AMMUNITION WITHOUT A GUN LICENSE”, “AGGRAVATED ASSAULT”, “THREATENING WORDS”, AND “RESISTING LAWFUL ARREST”. The firearm and other related charges are as a result of the incident which occurred on Thursday 21st January at the Bus terminal.

He was subsequently taken to Magistrate Court #7 where he was arraigned on charges by the Customs Department for Dealing with Uncustomed Goods related to the firearm.

Mr. Lauriano was additionally charged jointly with Ernie Miranda for Burglary this is a separate incident emanating from a report made on January 9. 2010.

He is currently remanded at the Kolbe Foundation and is to return to court on February 23, 2010.

BELMOPAN

POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION

On 25/01/10 a Post Mortem Examination was conducted on a partially decomposed unidentified body which was found between mile 51 and 52 on the Hummingbird Highway.  At the conclusion the cause of death was classified as undetermined due to the advanced state of decomposition. 

BENQUE VIEJO

KEPT FIREARM WITHOUT A GUN LICENSE /AMMUNITION

On 24/01/10 Police conducted a routine Foot Patrol on the Hydro Road, Cayo District, where ARMANDO MORALES, of Cayo District was seen sitting at the entrance of a cave. The suspect handed over to them a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with a cartridge, he was unable to provide a gun license. As a result he was formally arrested and charged for the offense of Keeping firearm without a gun license and keeping ammunition without license.

DRUG TRAFFICKING

On 25/01/10 Police conducted a search on JOSE HERMELINDO ICH ICAL, Guatemalan, of Cayo District, which resulted in the discovery of two plastic bags containing 927.2grams of suspected Cannabis. ICAL was formally arrested and charged for the offense of Drug Trafficking.

TOLEDO DISTRICT

KEPT UNLICENSED FIREARM

On 25/01/10 Police intercepted and searched a pick up truck (BZ-C-28055) driven at the time by ARMANDO PRATT, businessman, of Toledo District, which resulted in the discovery of a .22 pistol.  PRATT failed to produce a gun license and is detained pending charge.

INTERMEDIATE SOUTHERN FORMATION

MISSING PERSON

NOELIA DIAZ, of Santa Cruz Village, Stann Creek District reported that on 21/01/10 her daughter namely EVELYN JIMENEZ, left home and has not returned.  JIMENEZ is of brown skin complexion, slim built, sharp nose, long black hair, narrow face, bright eyes, height 4ft 10ins., weight 110lbs, and was last seen wearing a white blouse, long jeans pants with black slippers.  Police are investigating.